GUWAHATI: Students organizations in the state, including the influential All Assam Students Union, have opposed the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 issued by the Union ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently.
Opposing the notification, AASU general secretary, Lurinjyoti Gogoi on Sunday said that the draft would be detrimental to the interests of not just Assam but the entire Northeast as well.
“The EIA 2020 draft is detrimental to the interests of Assam and Northeast India. It is imperative that the people of the region study and realise the potentially devastating impact this notification will have at a time when we should be focusing on conserving our natural systems,” Gogoi informed through Twitter on Sunday.
The draft permits “post-facto approval” for projects. In other words, it states that projects which have come up without environmental clearances can be legalised. The duration and bonafide period of clearances for river valley projects have increased to 15 years from the existing 10 years and mining projects to 50 years from the existing duration of 30 years.
If it comes to effect, the EIA Notification 2020 will replace the EIA Notification of 2006 for all future industrial projects.
The Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), the student wing of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, has also voiced its opposition to the draft EIA Notification 2020. The SMSS appealed to the people to submit their objections against the draft EIA notification by August 11, claiming that the draft would destroy the resources of the state.
The draft proposes to reduce time for public hearing on assessments seeking environmental clearance. It further proposes to reduce the public consultation process from 30 days to 20 days.