Environmental Impact Assessment

Influence of Impact of Assessment Environmental (EIA) on Sustainability Development

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is without doubt one of the most vital techniques that has be employed for sustainable development. It can predict possible effects of any project on environment, and / or, avert it, thus achieving sustainable economic development without compromising on environment. The EIA helps in the protection of ecosystems:

1. Protecting Ecosystems: EIA finds that developers are not detrimental or manage to reduce their impact on BIODIVERSITY or natural habitats in order to sustain them.
2. People make effective use of the resources, with the least proportion of wastage or polluting the environment, other than developing it.
3. Stakeholders’ involvement: The Application of processes through EIA has in one way been made respondant to the local communities and people involved themselves to foster and enhance care and sustainability.
4. Avoidance of long-term costs: EIA can be most effective in avoiding costly controls and restorations measures of the long term since environmental questions are dealt with in the best time possible.

The Indian Himalayan Region: Needs for a Special EIA

Indian Himalayan region is vulnerable academically having diverse ecosystems ranging from the sub-tropical to the desert type in the high altitude pastures. Such distinctive aspects of environment, social and climatic structure make it to warrant a specific EIA strategy. Here’s why:

1. High Seismic and Landslide Vulnerability : The IHR is severely located in an area of frequent earthquakes, landslides and flash floods. They are youthful areas and seismically active re gions exist in the area. Main sources of hazards involve big projects like dam constructions; highway constructions; mining activities which reduces slopes and increases seismicity. Moreover, to prepare a specific EIA for such a region some impacts on geology peculiar to the mountainous territory have to be evaluated.

For example the Kedarnath floods 2013 established how river was dammed and flow paths have been manipulated and that has worsened disaster impacts. An IIA may require an above-distraction risk assessment that targets the peculiar slope area of the IHR.

5. Climatic Vulnerability: The Himalayas are more vulnerable with climate change. It is self explanatory, through revealing that with increase in temperature, the process of change in cycles increases with a higher rate of disasters. Overally, the IHR requires another EIA that is more climate adaptation and resilient.

Example: The temperature is increasing due to, melting glaciers and gangotri is one of the melting glaciers due to temperature checks and tourism checks pollution. Climate based EIA can support the regulation of pollution and sustainable tourism.

Conclusion:

The proposed framework of EIA specific to the Indian Himalayan Region would combine those aspects with the Indian concern of development along with the sustainable conservation of environment. In fact, it could turn out as a useful instrument to provide EIA with an approach to sustainable development and conservation of environmental and cultural diversity of the Himalayas.

2. Biodiversity Hotspot: The IHR is habitat to diverse and highly conserved plant and animal species, some of which are endangered and restricted to this habitat type only. Such diversity may not receive adequate consideration in standard EIAs; but a particular EIA can adequately capture the need to conserve bio-divance.
Example: For example, the Char Dham highway project in Uttarakhand was adopted as construction work taken up by the state governments. Threats of habitat fragmentation and to a species like the Himalayan musk deer were on the agenda. An EIA may be regional so that an accurate evaluation of the presence of species can be done and other options which are more favorable from the ecological point of view can be considered for construction.

3. Sensitivity of Water Resources: The Himalayas are particularly reactive to initiatives to supply fresh water and millions people rely on the glaciers and rivers of this area as their main water dispensers. In addition, hydroelectric projects, and other tourism development have an impact on water quality and glaciers. In addition to the points stated above, an EIA can include aspects such as; glacier effects and checking on use of water so as to prevent overuse.
For instance: Glaciers in the Satluj and Beas basins are partially affected by the extensive hydroelectric development work carried out there hitherto. Specialized EIA can also put stiff measures on glaciers and water supply that is so crucial for sustainable supplies of water.

4. Cultural and Indigenous Community Concerns The cross-sectional nature of the IHR harbors many different indigenous populations that are naturally culturally connected to the topography. Some projects lack attention to social factors might slow down development of traditional economy and disrespect the legacy.
Example: The current intervention under the Pancheshwar Dam project construction is posing serious questions about displacement and livelihood of the affected people. EIA of a region can therefore contain more elaborate socio economic impact study to ensure that the locals are fairly compensated and their standards of living enhanced by the project as well as their culture.