Consider the following statements regarding the EIA Notification, 2006:

Question

Consider the following statements regarding the EIA Notification, 2006:

I. It categorizes projects into Category A (national level) and Category B (state level).

II. Category B projects are appraised only by the national-level Impact Assessment Agency (IAA).

III. The EIA cycle (post 2006) comprises screening, scoping, public hearing, and appraisal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. I and II only
2. B. I and III only (Correct answer)
3. C. II and III only
4. D. I, II and III

Correct Answer

Option B — I and III only

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is I and III only.

Key Points

• Statement I is correct. The 2006 notification categorises projects into Category A, appraised at national level, and Category B, appraised at State level.
• Statement II is incorrect, and it is the decisive error. Category B projects are appraised by the State-level SEIAA, advised by the SEAC — not by a national Impact Assessment Agency. Decentralising that appraisal was the principal reform the 2006 notification made over the 1994 one.
• Statement III is correct. The post-2006 EIA cycle comprises screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal.

Additional Information

• Under the superseded 1994 notification all projects went to the Centre, which produced long delays. The 2006 split was intended to relieve that backlog.
• Category B is further divided at the screening stage into B1, which requires a full EIA report, and B2, which generally does not.
• A Category B project is escalated to Category A by the General Condition where it lies within a prescribed distance of a protected area, critically polluted area, eco-sensitive zone, or an inter-State or international boundary.
• The SEIAA is the decision-making authority and the SEAC is only advisory, a distinction examiners test regularly.