Environment assessment key to tackling pandemic

NEW DELHI: Forget flattening the curve, the world has been flattened by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. We know this is a zoonotic disease — when germs pass on from animals to humans. Protecting our natural ecosystems is vital to staying alive and preventing future pandemics. But India’s key weapon — the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is being diluted. EIAS regulate projects planned in natural ecosystems. A project proposer has to meet the requirements.

The problem is, there’s a new draft EIA notification, to replace the 2006 version. It’s so watered down version, it’s impotent. One of the most perverse provisions is you can seek environmental clearance after you’ve started work. How does it help when you’ve already chopped off the forests or polluted the air? Delhi’s Vasant Kunj malls and offices began work, destroying the Southern most parts of the Ridge.

The developers pleaded that they be allowed to continue as they had sunk in significant funds. The Delhi government agreed. Letters from thousands of people were dismissed. The proposed future is similar. The new EIA also disempowers communities which are often custodians of the wilderness. In some categories, projects like inland waterways don’t even need public consultation (PC) anymore. The PC was always contentious, because it was sometimes made complicated to prevent public participation. How do you say no to freight boats passing through the Chambal Sanctuary, home to breeding Indian Skimmers? India will be weaker with this new EIA. Our best response to the virus is to strengthen EIA and be accountable to the environment.