Under the EIA Notification, 2006, Category A projects:

Question

Under the EIA Notification, 2006, Category A projects:

1. A. Are appraised only at State level
2. B. Require environmental clearance at national level and are not screened by SEIAA (Correct answer)
3. C. Are exempted from public hearing
4. D. Do not require consent to operate

Correct Answer

Option B — Require environmental clearance at national level and are not screened by SEIAA

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Require environmental clearance at national level and are not screened by SEIAA.

Key Points

• Under the EIA Notification, 2006, Category A projects are those judged to have the greatest impact potential. They are appraised centrally by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, advised by an Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).
• They therefore do not go to the SEIAA, which handles Category B, and they are not exempt from public hearing — Category A projects almost always require public consultation.
• They also remain subject to consent to establish and consent to operate from the State Pollution Control Board, so the option denying that is wrong.

Additional Information

• Category A is defined by project type and threshold capacity in the Schedule to the notification — beyond a stated size, a project is Category A regardless of location.
• A project otherwise falling in Category B is escalated to Category A by the General Condition, which applies when it lies within a prescribed distance of a protected area, critically polluted area, eco-sensitive zone or inter-State or international boundary.
• Environmental clearance and consent are separate approvals from different authorities — clearance under the EPA 1986 from MoEFCC or SEIAA, consent under the Water and Air Acts from the SPCB. A project needs both.
• Category B is split into B1 (EIA report required) and B2 (generally exempt), assessed by the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) which advises the SEIAA.