Syllabus: GS-III; Subject: Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management; Topic: Environmental Impact Assessment, Issue: Star ratings for State environment bodies.
Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change planned star-rating for state environmental efficiency.
About Star Ratings:
- The plan is aimed to rank State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs) based on efficiency in granting clearances.
- SEIAAs receive points ranging from 0 to 7 based on clearance efficiency, with criteria specified.
- This System was introduced in 2022 but challenged for potentially diluting scrutiny during assessments.
Prelims Connect (Institutions in news)
| State-Level Environment Impact Assessment Authorities:
● Central Government forms SEIAAs under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. ● Functions: To grant Environmental Clearance to mitigate pollution and protect the environment. ● Projects are categorized as ‘A’ or ‘B’ based on their potential environmental impact. ➢ Category ‘A’ projects require clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), GoI. ➢ Category ‘B’ projects require clearance from State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), based on activity thresholds. |
