• The Environment Protection Rule, 1986, under sub-rule 3 of Rule 5 imposes certain restrictions and prohibitions on new projects or activities and the need for obtaining Environmental Clearance and submission of EIA for the purpose.
• EIA aims to link artificial projects with objectives of sustainable development. The assessment enables the decision-makers to analyse the effect of developmental activities on the environment well before the project is implemented.
• EIA also encourages the inclusion of mitigation strategies in development projects by the project proponent through cost-effective measures to eliminate or minimise any adverse impact of such projects.
• EIA ensures that the influence of humans on the environment is within the capacity of assimilation and regeneration of the local ecosystem.
• EIA report helps the authority to grant or reject EC applications based on the Environmental, Social and Economic impacts before the beginning of the project.

The Environment Clearance process looks into factors affecting nature and humans, like noise and pollution parameters, along with environmental components for Air, Water, Biological and land. A complete list of Industries and projects has been mentioned in EIA notification 2006. All the projects are categorised into two broad categories based on their production or area under EIA Notification 2006:

• Category A: All projects under category A require Environment Clearance from Central Authority.
• Category B: Further Differentiation of B category is done into B1 and B2 Categories by the concerned SEAC. Projects falling in B1 category will require Environment Clearance from the respective State Authority and projects falling under B2 Category will be exempted from submitting the EIA report.

• Detailed Project Description (including the name of the project, location, proposed breakup of area, water requirement, waste generation etc.)
• Site/ Layout plan
• Proof of installed machinery
• Proof of Land Ownership
• ID proof of Signatory
• Quality test Report (wherever applicable)
• Proof of mitigation options adopted
• Proof of Electricity and water connection

• Screening Stage: (Only for Category ‘B’ projects and activities) The concerned SEAC will determine whether or not the project requires further environmental studies to prepare an EIA, depending upon the nature and location specificity of the project. If EIA is required, the project will be categorised as B1; if not, it will be categorised as B2.
• Scoping Stage and site inspection: (Only for Category A and B1 projects) The Expert Level Committee/ SEAC will determine a detailed Terms of Reference for preparing EIA. A site visit by a sub-group of Expert Appraisal Committee or the SEAC can also be performed. However, Category B projects will not require scoping.
• Public Consultation Stage: (For Category A and B1) At this stage, the concerns of the local community and other stakeholders of the environment are ascertained, taking into account all the material concerns (socio-economic, cultural and human concerns) in the project.
• Appraisal Stage: The MoEF&CC/ SEIAA scrutinises the final EIA report and outcome of the public consultation submitted by the applicant and makes categorical recommendations if needed. This process can take up to 60 days from the receipt of the final EIA report.

Applicants needing to modernise or expand existing projects by increasing the production capacity above the previously authorised capacity will also need environmental clearance by applying to the EAC or the concerned SEAC in Form I. Similarly, for increasing the lease area or production capacity of mining projects or the modernisation of an existing unit with an increase in the production capacity beyond the prescribed threshold limit through a change in process and or technology or involving a change in the product mix will be appraised accordingly. All applications will be considered within sixty days. The validity of any Prior Environmental Clearance will depend on the type of project. For instance, the validity of EC will be ten years in the case of River Valley projects, thirty years for mining projects and five years in the case of all other projects and activities.

• For category A Projects, a proponent of safety and EC must be done publicly in at least 2 local newspapers of the district or state where the project is situated.
• For category B Projects, a proponent of safety and EC must be done publicly by advertising in newspapers.
• The project management must submit a half-yearly compliance report on the prior environmental clearance terms and conditions stipulated at the time of receiving EC in hard and soft copies to the SEIAA on 1st June and 1st December of each calendar year.