SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) met Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui registering their opposition to the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020 Notification.
In this connection, the HYC has also written to the Union secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
In the letter to the ministry, the HYC observed that the draft appears to be “appeasing the business and economic interests over environmental interests”.
The organisation demanded that the draft should be recalled.
“The EIA notification is an important law which regulates the impact of land use change, tree felling, pollution, waste and effluent management for infrastructure and industrial projects in the country, which is to be studied and used in decision making process for development purposes. Any changes in the law will have an impact on the people affected by such development and the ecology of the particular place,” the HYC said in the letter.
The HYC said that the government should provide adequate opportunity to the stakeholders to express their views on the draft, which may be hindered due to the current situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HYC maintained that the draft EIA Notification should not interfere with the existing land laws in the state.
“Only a small portion of the land in the state is owned by the government, hence, the law, if implemented, should not affect the present land holding system nor interfere in the land laws at any cost”, the council said.
The HYC also opposed the proposal to expand the list of projects that are exempted from public domain.
In such a case, there is all likelihood of public consultation vanishing, which is a fundamental concept for any project, especially in a state like Meghalaya, the HYC said, while adding that the public hearing process has also been reduced to 40 days from 45 days, which is not acceptable.
It also pointed out that the draft gives way to post-facto approvals which undermines the orders of the National Green Tribunal that had earlier ruled it out.
The HYC, in the letter, added that the draft puts onus on the project proponent to report violation or non-compliance on their part, which is “totally flawed”.
It further held the penalty for violation as “absurd”, which, according to the draft, can be condoned by paying a meagre sum as fine.
On the environment clearances (EC) front, the HYC said that the draft has increased the validity of the EC to 50 years from 30 years. It urged the government to revert to the 30 years of validity period.
