## Report on Notification Regarding State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Gujarat
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on August 13, 2021, concerning the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for Gujarat. The notification establishes the SEIAA, Gujarat, defines its composition, term of office, powers, and procedures. The core purpose is to constitute and define the operational framework for an authority responsible for environmental impact assessments within the state of Gujarat, ensuring projects adhere to environmental regulations. Key findings include the formal establishment of the SEIAA, its reliance on the existing State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), and stipulations regarding conflict of interest and logistical support.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an informative analysis of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notification dated August 13, 2021, regarding the constitution of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Gujarat. The analysis is based solely on the information provided within the notification text.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This is a *new policy* establishing the SEIAA Gujarat.
* **Core Objective(s):** The core objective, as inferred from the text, is to establish a functional State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) in Gujarat to oversee and regulate environmental impact assessments for projects within the state, as empowered by the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
* This is a New Policy, the policy likely addresses the need for a dedicated state-level authority to manage and regulate the environmental impact assessment process. This is inferred from the invocation of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, suggesting the policy aims to implement and enforce environmental regulations at the state level. The reference to a previous notification (S.O.1533E, dated the 14th September, 2006) suggests this SEIAA may be a reconstitution or update to a previous framework.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
As a new policy, the main components and rules mandated by the text are:
* **Establishment of the SEIAA, Gujarat:** The notification formally constitutes the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for Gujarat.
* **Composition of the Authority:** The Authority comprises a Chairman (Shri H K Dash, IAS Retd), a Member (Professor Dr. Vijay Kumar Srivastava), and a Member Secretary (Deputy/Joint/Additional Secretary Environment, Government of Gujarat).
* **Term of Office:** The Chairman and Members shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of publication of the notification.
* **Powers and Procedures:** The Authority shall exercise powers and follow procedures as specified in notification S.O.1533E, dated the 14th September, 2006.
* **Reliance on SEAC:** The SEIAA will base its decisions on the recommendations of the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), constituted by the Ministry vide number S.O. 1682E dated 28th May, 2020. The SEAC will act according to the provisions contained in that notification.
* **Conflict of Interest:** The notification outlines measures to avoid conflicts of interest, requiring the Chairman and Members to declare associations with consulting organizations and project proponents, and prohibiting them from undertaking consultations or preparing EIAs for projects to be appraised by the Authority during their tenure. Recusal is required if consultancy services or EIA studies were provided to a proponent within the past five years.
* **Secretariat Support:** The Government of Gujarat is required to notify an agency to act as the Secretariat for the Authority, providing financial, logistical, and infrastructure support.
* **Remuneration:** The sitting fee, travelling allowance, and dearness allowance to the Chairman and Members shall be paid as per the rules of the State Government of Gujarat.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
Based on the text, the directly affected stakeholders include:
* The Government of Gujarat, particularly the Department of Environment.
* Project proponents seeking environmental clearances within the state of Gujarat.
* Consulting organizations involved in Environmental Impact Assessments.
* Members and Chairman of the SEIAA Gujarat
* Members of the SEAC
* The notified agency to act as Secretariat
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agencies/Bodies:**
* Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (issuing authority)
* State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Gujarat (implementing body)
* State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) (provides recommendations)
* Government of Gujarat (provides secretariat support and remuneration)
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The Chairman and Members hold office for three years. The procedures to be followed by the Authority are defined in notification S.O.1533E, dated the 14th September, 2006.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes of this policy include:
* A more structured and regulated environmental impact assessment process in Gujarat.
* Increased transparency and accountability in environmental decision-making.
* Enhanced environmental protection through informed project appraisal.
* A clear framework for managing conflicts of interest within the SEIAA.
* Improved efficiency in the environmental clearance process through reliance on the SEAC.
**9. Conclusion:**
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notification dated August 13, 2021, is a significant step towards establishing a robust environmental governance framework in Gujarat. The establishment of the SEIAA, along with the defined roles, responsibilities, and conflict-of-interest safeguards, is expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental impact assessments within the state. This ultimately should lead to more environmentally sustainable development practices within Gujarat.
Key Entities Referenced
Environment Protection Act, 1986: An act of the Parliament of India. Reference is made to subsection 3 of section 3 of this act.
Ministry of Environment and Forests: The former name of the ministry, which is now called the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Reference is made to a notification from this ministry.
State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Gujarat: A constituted authority also referred to as 'the Authority, Gujarat' in the policy. It's a state-level body for environmental impact assessments in Gujarat.
Gujarat: A state in India, where the aforementioned authority is located.
H K Dash: IAS Retd. Chairman of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Gujarat.
Gandhinagar, Gujarat: The location of H K Dash's residence, within Gujarat.
Vijay Kumar Srivastava: Professor and Member of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Gujarat.
State Level Expert Appraisal Committee2 SEAC2: A committee constituted by the Ministry. The State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Gujarat shall base its decision on the recommendations of this committee.
Government of Gujarat: The state government that will notify an agency to act as Secretariat for the Authority, Gujarat.
Secretariat: An agency notified by the Government of Gujarat to provide financial and logistic support to the Authority, Gujarat.
Environmental Impact Assessment: A study to assess the environmental impacts of a project.
Environment Management Plan: A plan for managing the environmental aspects of a project.
Dr. Sujit Kumar Bajpayee: Jt. Secy.
New Delhi: Location of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry issuing the notification.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-14082021-229005
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 3048] नई दिल्ली, िुक्रवार, अगस्ट्त 13, 2021/श्रावण 22, 1943
No. 3048] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2021/SRAVANA 22, 1943
पर्ाावरण, वन और िलवार् ुपररवतना मत्रं ालर्
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 13 अगस्ट् त, 2021
का.आ. 3288(अ).—पर्ाावरण (सरं क्षण) अजधजनर्म, 1986 (1986 की 29) की धारा 3 की उप धारा (3) द्वारा
प्रित् त िजिर्ों का प्रर्ोग करत े हुए और भारत सरकार के पवू ावत पर्ाावरण और वन मंत्रालर् की तारीख 14 जसतम्ब र,
2006 की अजधसूचना संख् र्ा का.आ. 1533(अ) के अनुसरण म,ें (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश् चात ् उक्त अजधसूचना कहा गर्ा ह)ै
केंद्रीर् सरकार एतिद्वारा राज्र् स्ट् तरीर् पर्ाावरण प्रभाव आकलन प्राजधकरण गुिरात (जिसे इसमें इसके पश् चात ् प्राजधकरण,
गुिरात कहा गर्ा ह)ै का गठन जनम्न जलजखत सिस्ट् र्ों को िाजमल करते हुए करती ह,ै अर्ाात् :
(1) (2) (3)
1. श्री एच. के. िास, आईएएस (सेवाजनवृत् त) अध् र्क्ष;
प् लाट न.ं 829, सेक्ट र-08, गांधी नगर-382007
2. प्रो. डॉ. जविर् कुमार श्रीवास्ट् तव सिस्ट् र्;
drvks9@gmail.com
3. उप/संर्ुक् त/अपर सजचव (पर्ाावरण), गुिरात सरकार सिस्ट् र् सजचव
4522 GI/2021 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
2. प्राजधकरण, गुिरात के अध् र्क्ष और सिस्ट् र्, रािपत्र म ें इस अजधसूचना के प्रकािन की तारीख स े तीन वर्षों की
समर्ावजध के जलए कार्ाभार सभं ालेंगे।
3. प्राजधकरण, गुिरात ऐसी िजिर्ों का प्रर्ोग और ऐसी प्रदक्रर्ाओं का पालन करेगा िो उक्त अजधसूचना म ें
जवजनर्िष्ा ट ह।ैं
4. प्राजधकरण, गुिरात इस मंत्रालर् द्वारा तारीख 28 मई, 2020 के का.आ. 1682(अ) द्वारा पहले स े गरठत राज्र्
स्ट् तरीर् जविेर्षज्ञ मल्ू र्ांकन सजमजत-2 (एसईएसी-2) की जसफाररिों के आधार पर अपना जनणर्ा लगे ी।
5. प्राजधकरण, गुिरात की सहार्ता के प्रर्ोिन स े उक्त राज्र् स्ट् तरीर् जविेर्षज्ञ मूल् र्ांकन सजमजत-2 (एसईएसी-2)
(जिसे इसम ें इसके पश् चात् एसईएसी, गुिरात कहा गर्ा ह)ै अजध सूचना संख् र्ा का.आ. 1682(अ), तारीख 28 मई, 2020
म ें समाजवष्ट उपबंधों के अनुसार कार् ा करेंगी।
6. जहतों के दकसी जववाि स े बचने के जलए :
(क) प्राजधकरण, गुिरात के अध् र्क्ष और सिस्ट् र् र्ह घोजर्षत करेंगे दक वे दकस परामिी संगठन और सार् ही
दकस पररर्ोिना प्रस्ट् तावक के सार् िुड े हुए ह।ैं
(ख) प्राजधकरण, गुिरात के अध् र्क्ष और सिस्ट् र्, अपने कार् ा काल के िौरान प्राजधकरण, गुिरात द्वारा
मूल् र्ांकन दकए िाने वाली दकसी पररर्ोिना के जलए पर्ाावरण प्रभाव आकलन (ईआईए) और पर्ाावरण
प्रबंधन र्ोिना को तैर्ार करन ेम ें कोई परामि ा नहीं िेंग े र्ा उसस े संबद्ध नहीं होंग;े
(ग) र्दि गत पांच वर्षों म ें प्राजधकरण, गुिरात के अध् र्क्ष र्ा दकसी सिस्ट् र् न े दकसी पररर्ोिना प्रस्ट् तावक के
जलए कोई परामिी सेवा प्रिान की हों र्ा ईआईए अध् र्र्न कराए हों तो ऐसी जस्ट्र्जत म ें वे ऐसे प्रस्ट् तावकों
द्वारा प्रस्ट् ताजवत की िा रही दकसी पररर्ोिना के मूल् र्ांकन की प्रदक्रर्ा म ें प्राजधकरण, गुिरात की बैठकों
म ें स्ट् वर्ं िाजमल नहीं होंगे।
7. गुिरात सरकार, प्राजधकरण, गुिरात के जलए सजचवालर् के रूप म ें कार् ा करने के जलए एक अजभकरण को
अजध सूजचत करेगी और र्ह सजचवालर्, उनके सभी सांजवजध क कार्ों के संबंध म ें आवासन, पररवहन और ऐसी अन् र्
सुजवधाओं सजहत स भी जवत् तीर् और संभार-तंत्र सहार्ता प्रिान करेगा।
8. प्राजधकरण, गुिरात के अध् र्क्ष और सिस्ट् र्ों को बैठक भत् ते, र्ात्रा भत् ते और महगं ाई भत् ते का भुगतान, गुिरात
राज्र् सरकार के जनर्मों के अनसु ार दकर्ा िाएगा।
[फ. स.ं ि-े 11013/23/2007-आईए.II(I)]
डॉ. सुिीत कुमार बािपेर्ी, संर्ुि सजचव[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 13th August, 2021
S.O. 3288(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 3 of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) and in pursuance of the notification of the Government of
India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests, number S.O.1533(E), dated the 14th September,
2006 (hereinafter referred to as the said notification), the Central Government hereby constitutes the State
Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Gujarat (hereinafter referred to as the Authority,
Gujarat) comprising of the following Members, namely: -
(1) (2) (3)
1. Shri H K Dash, IAS (Retd) Chairman;
Plot No. 829, Sector-8, Gandhinagar-382007
2. Professor Dr. Vijay Kumar Srivastava Member;
Drvks9@gmail.com
3. Deputy/Joint/Additional Secretary (Environment), Government of Member Secretary.
Gujarat
2. The Chairman and Members of the Authority, Gujarat shall hold office for a term of three years from
the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette.
3. The Authority, Gujarat shall exercise such powers and follow such procedures as specified in the said
notification.
4. The Authority, Gujarat shall base its decision on the recommendations of the State Level Expert
Appraisal Committee-2 (SEAC-2) already constituted by the Ministry vide number S.O. 1682(E) dated 28th
May, 2020.
5. For the purpose of assisting the Authority, Gujarat, the said SEAC-2 (hereinafter referred to as the
SEAC, Gujarat) shall act according to provisions contain in the notification number S.O. 1682(E) dated 28th
May, 2020.
6. In order to avoid any conflict of interest, -
(a) the Chairman and Members of the Authority, Gujarat shall declare as to which consulting
organisation they have been associated with and also the project proponents;
(b) the Chairman and Members of the Authority, Gujarat shall not undertake any consultation or
associate with preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Environment Management
Plan for a project, which is to be appraised by the Authority, Gujarat during their tenure; and
(c) if in the past five years, the Chairman or any of the Members of the Authority, Gujarat have
provided consultancy services or conducted EIA studies for any project proponent, in that event
they shall recuse themselves from the meeting of the Authority, Gujarat in the process of appraisal
of any project being proposed by such proponents.
7. Government of Gujarat shall notify an agency to act as Secretariat for the Authority, Gujarat and the
Secretariat shall provide all financial and logistic support including accommodation, transportation and
such other facilities in respect of all their statutory functions.
8. The sitting fee, travelling allowance and dearness allowance to the Chairman and Members of the
Authority, Gujarat shall be paid as per the rules of the State Government of Gujarat.
[F. No. J-11013/23/2007-IA.II(I)]
Dr. SUJIT KUMAR BAJPAYEE, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.