The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) proposed a new draft notification of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) on March 12, 2020, after which a series of nationwide digital protests have been going on backed by student unions, environmentalists, and other stakeholders, condemning the stance of the government on environmental sustainability.

The formulated draft exempts more than 40 types of projects such as silt or clay extraction, community projects such as the digging of wells, prospecting coal, and non-coal minerals, etc. Further, the draft exempts medium and small scale industries from several processes under EMP clearance.

But, what is the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020? How does it affect the environment? What will be the consequences?

All these questions are answered by Neha Sinha (Conservation biologist and author), Manju Menon (Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research) and Sandeep Anirudhan (Founder, Aikyam Community).

(Send this sample letter by Centre for Policy Research India to the authorities: https://letmebreathe.in/2020/06/27/sample-letter-to-the-environment-ministry-to-withdraw-draft-eia-notification-2020/)