Context: Environmental Clearance to various developmental projects has been at the core of Environment- development debate. However both Environment and development are not the two different ends of a spectrum and can definitely coexist if some changes are made to our green clearance policy.  

What will make the system more effective? 

• There is a need to consolidate all clearances — environment, forests, wildlife and coastal — so that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) is comprehensive. 
• The process of public assessment must be deepened. Going forward, the mandatory videography of the public hearing should be livestreamed. The committee assessing the project must be held to account that it has taken these concerns on board. 
• It is also necessary to review the role of the environmental assessment committees — at the Centre and at the state. These committees are the weakest link in this process, as they are faceless and are not responsible for the compliance or monitoring of the project.
• An alternative to these committees is that the process of assessment and monitoring be done by the central and state environment departments, comprising experts. 
• The most important step would be to greatly strengthen the process of monitoring the project after the clearance has been given. For this, there is a need to integrate the functioning of all agencies — from state pollution control boards to the coastal- and forest-related institutions. Currently, there are many agencies and yet enforcement is weak. 
• Also, it is to be ensured that the baseline data about the project is credible and publicly available'. For this, the process of collecting updated information on different environmental parameters and on the ecological importance of the project site must be strengthened. 

Road Ahead

• There is a need for a robust and credible system of environmental scrutiny to find the balance between environment and development. An effective system, working for environmental integrity, would ensure these happen, both in design and in implementation.