Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the structured pre-project study mandated under the EIA Notification 2006 (issued under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986) for specified categories of projects. By 2026, EIA is the gateway through which most major industrial, infrastructure, mining, and large real-estate projects in India must pass before construction can begin. The framework has digitised through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal — single-window for environmental, forest, wildlife, and CRZ clearances — and the public-hearing process has stabilised through extensive jurisprudence at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Supreme Court.

The architecture: EIA Notification 2006 + amendments; Schedule classifies projects into Category A (Central — MoEF&CC level) and Category B (State — SEIAA / SEAC level, with sub-categories B1 and B2 based on impact); the EIA Process — Screening (Form 1, Pre-Feasibility Report), Scoping (Terms of Reference / ToR by EAC / SEAC), Public Consultation (mandatory public hearing for most categories), Appraisal (EIA Report review by Expert Appraisal Committee), and EC Issue. Post-EC compliance — half-yearly compliance reports, conditions monitoring, modifications.

We deliver EIA end-to-end — from Form 1 / Pre-Feasibility Report and ToR application through baseline studies, EIA Report drafting, public hearing facilitation, EAC / SEAC defence, and EC issuance / post-EC compliance — for industrial, infrastructure, mining, and large-scale real estate projects.

The EIA Process Stages

Stage 1: Screening & Scoping (Form 1, PFR, ToR):
Form 1 + Pre-Feasibility Report submitted on PARIVESH; project categorised; ToR drafted by EAC / SEAC specifying baseline-study scope, impact-assessment depth, and special conditions.

• Stage 2: Baseline Studies (3-12 Months):: Air quality (4-season ambient monitoring), water quality (surface + groundwater), noise, soil, flora-fauna (ecology / biodiversity), socio-economic, traffic, marine (CRZ), seismic — collected per ToR.

• Stage 3: EIA Report & EMP:: Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment Report; Environmental Management Plan; Risk Assessment; Disaster Management Plan; Public Consultation Documents.

• Stage 4: Public Consultation:: Public hearing in project-affected area; District Magistrate / SPCB-led; written and oral submissions documented; Public Hearing Report.

• Stage 5: Appraisal & EAC Review:: EIA Report + Public Hearing submitted; EAC / SEAC questions; presentation; conditions imposed.

• Stage 6: EC Issue & Post-EC Compliance:: Environmental Clearance with conditions; half-yearly compliance reports; periodic SPCB inspection; modifications / amendments.

What Determines EIA Success

Project categorisation accurate. ToR comprehensively addressed. Baseline data complete (4-season ambient air monitoring is non-negotiable). Public hearing professionally conducted. Impact assessment robust (cumulative, transboundary, marine where applicable). EMP credible and quantified. EAC / SEAC presentation prepared. Post-EC compliance disciplined.