ESIA is a planning tool that is generally accepted as an integral component of sound decision-making. The objective of ESIA is to foresee and address potential environmental problems/concerns at an early stage of project planning and design. ESIA assists planners and government authorities in the decision making process by identifying the key impacts/issues and formulating mitigation measures.
ESIA process in India is made up of the following phases:
- Screening
- Scoping
- Consideration of Alternatives (sites, technologies)
- Environmental Baseline Data Collection, Social Surveys
- Impact Prediction, Assessment, Evaluation
- Risk Assessment
- Mitigation Measures and Environmental Impact Statement
- Environment Management Plan and Emergency Response plan
- Public Participation
- Appraisal
- Post Project Monitoring Requirements
STEP also offers technical support for obtaining Environmental Clearances, No Objection Certificate (NOC) and Consents from Pollution Control Board.
Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is aimed at mitigating the possible adverse impact of a project so that the existing environmental quality is maintained. The EMP converses all aspects of planning, construction and operation of the project. Apart from mitigation measures the EMP will also address post- project monitoring requirements.
EMP is one of the requirements in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies. For projects which do not need the Environmental Clearance/ EIA, authorities before granting NOC /Authorizations/ Consents may advice the project proponents to develop EMP/ Environment Health and Safety Statement for new project/ expansions.
- Mitigation Measures for prevention of water, air, land pollution
- Mitigation for Occupational Health and Safety Issues
- Energy Management
- Cost of Mitigation Measures
- Environmental Management Cell and Environment Laboratory
- Post Project Monitoring Requirements