Background
Environmental Impact Assessment Rules: The Supreme Court invalidated a Central Government exemption that had allowed industrial sheds, schools, colleges, and hostels to bypass environmental clearance by merely adhering to eco-friendly guidelines. The Court emphasized that all large construction projects, especially those exceeding 20,000 sq m, inevitably impact the environment. Consequently, such projects must adhere to the EIA Notification, 2006 clearance process.
EIA Notification, 2006 Overview
Under the EIA Notification, 2006, obtaining Prior Environmental Clearance (EC) is mandatory for construction projects of 20,000 sq m or more.
Project Classification
- Category A projects (large-scale or potentially significant in impact) require clearance from the Central Government.
- Category B projects (typically smaller or moderate in potential impact) are overseen by State Environmental Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs).
Scope of Clearance Requirement
This decision ensures that all large construction projects—regardless of their nature (residential, educational, industrial)—undergo environmental scrutiny if they exceed the 20,000 sq m threshold. It eliminates exceptions formerly granted based on purported eco-friendliness.
Legal and Regulatory Significance
This ruling underscores the principle that environmental risk cannot be presumed mitigated merely by eco-friendly intent. It reaffirms that standardized regulatory oversight through the EIA Notification, 2006 is essential to safeguard environmental integrity in India.
Italics identify the static GK fact where necessary.
Static GK fact: The EIA Notification, 2006, is the primary legal framework governing environmental clearances in India for projects likely to impact the environment.
Conclusion
Strict adherence to the EIA Notification, 2006 ensures that the environmental implications of large-scale construction are assessed and addressed. Both Category A and Category B projects must receive EC from appropriate authorities to proceed legally and responsibly.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Environmental Impact Assessment Rules:
| Topic | Detail |
| Supreme Court Ruling | Exemption for certain large constructions struck down |
| Clearance Threshold | Projects ≥20,000 sq m must obtain Prior Environmental Clearance |
| Central vs State Authority | Category A cleared by Central Government; Category B by SEIAAs |
| Regulatory Affirmation | All large projects, regardless of type, must follow EIA clearance |
