Regulation on Environmental Impact Assessment.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is authorized to decide when an “Environmental Impact Assessment" is positive,negative, required or not. The Ministry could hand over this authority to Governors. Any project subject to this Regulation shall neither start, nor any incentives be granted without a definite decision by the Ministry or by related Governor . Projects subject to this Regulation are listed in Annex-I and Annex-II. Annex-I provides list of projects where Environmental Impact Assessment is mandatory and Annex-II provides list of projects whose selection criteria must be applied. Environmental Impact Assessment shall be carried out as per projects in Annex-II if required by the reviewing committee. A committee shall be instituted, including representatives from related state institutions and agencies, from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and project leader or his/her representatives. When necessary representatives from universities, research agencies, vocational chambers, unions and other civil society organizations shall be invited to the committee. mmittee findings will be submitted to the Ministry for final decision. Project leaders shall be asked to modify the project for minor points to avoid complete rejection. Projects fully rejected after assessment could be reconsidered if conditions causing rejection change. Projects endorsed after Environmental Impact Assessment should commence within 5 years or the assessment shall be considered as null and void.