New Delhi, May 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Environment Ministry has extended the notice period for the draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification (EIA), 2020, till June 30, following representations that the notification was done during the lockdown.
As per an official statement: "The Ministry is in receipt of several representations for extending the notice period expressing concern that the draft EIA Notification 2020 was published during the lockdown imposed due to the Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, the Ministry after due consideration, deems it fit to extend the notice period up to 30th June, 2020."
The Central government, in exercise of the powers conferred under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 published the draft notification namely, Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2020 vide S.O. 1199(E) dated March 23, 2020 in the official gazette on April 11, 2020.
This was for the information of the public likely to be affected thereby and for making any objections or suggestions on the proposal contained in the draft notification within 60 days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing said draft notification were made available to the public.
An online petition was moved asking the Environment Ministry to withdraw the draft EIA notification, 2020 in the light of the Covid-2019 pandemic.
The petition for which 11,060 people have given their inputs, includes a letter to Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. The Environment Ministry has put out a draft EIA notification, 2020 on March 12, and sought comments from the public within 60 days from this date.
Since 1994, this notification has been an important tool for the legal assessment of social and environmental impacts of development projects and for organising public participation before the setting up or expansion of industrial and infrastructure projects in the country.
"It is appalling that the Ministry has put out a draft notification for public comments in the midst of a global economic and public health emergency. This makes us deeply concerned about your priorities," the petition said.
Source: IANS
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