## Report on the Notification Regarding the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Chhattisgarh
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, concerning the constitution of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) for Chhattisgarh. This notification supersedes a previous notification from 2018 and establishes a new SEIAA and SEAC with defined powers, procedures, and responsibilities for environmental impact assessment in the state. The core purpose is to ensure effective environmental oversight and appraisal of projects within Chhattisgarh. The key findings of this report highlight the composition of the SEIAA and SEAC, their terms of office, conflict of interest guidelines, and the establishment of a secretariat to support their functions.
**2. Introduction:**
This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the notification concerning the constitution of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) for Chhattisgarh, based solely on the information provided in the official notification text. This report serves to inform stakeholders, particularly those in industries operating within Chhattisgarh, about the changes and mandates outlined in this notification.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This notification supersedes the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, number S.O. 3170(E), dated the 29th June, 2018.
* **Core Objective(s):** The primary objective, inferred from the text, is to ensure a functional and updated framework for environmental impact assessment in Chhattisgarh by establishing and empowering the SEIAA and SEAC. This aims to facilitate environmentally sound project development while adhering to the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This notification represents an update or revision to the existing framework for environmental impact assessment in Chhattisgarh. The rationale behind superseding the 2018 notification is not explicitly stated, but we can infer it is to update the composition of the SEIAA and SEAC, or to address any inefficiencies or gaps identified in the previous notification, thus ensuring improved environmental governance within the state.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This notification specifically addresses the following key changes:
* **Establishment of New SEIAA and SEAC:** The notification constitutes a new SEIAA and SEAC for Chhattisgarh, replacing the previous committees (formed under the superseded notification). This indicates a restructuring of the environmental assessment bodies within the state.
* **Composition of the Committees:** The notification details the specific individuals appointed as Chairman and Members of both the SEIAA and SEAC, including their affiliations and contact information. This provides transparency regarding the personnel responsible for environmental assessment decisions.
* **Term of Office:** Both the Chairman and Members of the SEIAA and SEAC hold office for a term of three years from the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette. This defines the tenure of the appointed individuals.
* **Powers and Procedures:** The SEIAA and SEAC are mandated to exercise powers and follow procedures as specified in "the said notification" (referring to the original notification S.O.1533E, dated the 14th September, 2006). This maintains the existing operational framework for environmental assessment.
* **Conflict of Interest Guidelines:** The notification outlines specific conflict of interest guidelines for the Chairman and Members of the SEIAA and SEAC. This ensures impartiality and objectivity in the environmental assessment process. Specifically, members must declare associations with consulting organizations and project proponents, abstain from consulting on projects they will appraise, and recuse themselves from meetings if they have provided consultancy services to project proponents in the past five years.
* **Establishment of a Secretariat:** The Government of Chhattisgarh is directed to notify an agency to act as the Secretariat for both the SEIAA and SEAC, providing financial, logistical, and administrative support. This strengthens the operational capacity of the committees.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary target audience and stakeholders include:
* **Project Proponents:** Industries and developers planning projects within Chhattisgarh are directly affected as they will be subject to environmental impact assessments by the newly constituted SEIAA and SEAC.
* **Government of Chhattisgarh:** Various departments of the state government, particularly the Housing and Environment Department and the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board, are responsible for implementing and supporting the new framework.
* **Environmental Consultants:** Consulting organizations involved in preparing Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) will need to be aware of the conflict of interest guidelines.
* **Local Communities:** Communities that may be affected by projects undergoing environmental assessment are indirect stakeholders.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Central Government) issued the notification. The State Government of Chhattisgarh is responsible for notifying a Secretariat to support the SEIAA and SEAC. The SEIAA and SEAC themselves are responsible for conducting environmental assessments.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The notification specifies a three-year term of office for the Chairman and Members of the SEIAA and SEAC. The procedures for environmental assessment are referenced to "the said notification" (S.O.1533E, dated the 14th September, 2006), indicating that the core procedures remain consistent.
* **Amendment-Specific Implementation:** The main implementation aspect related to the amendment is the operationalization of the new SEIAA and SEAC, requiring the state government to establish the Secretariat and ensure the committees are functioning according to the guidelines.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes of this notification are:
* **Enhanced Environmental Governance:** By reconstituting the SEIAA and SEAC and clarifying conflict of interest guidelines, the notification aims to enhance the quality and impartiality of environmental impact assessments in Chhattisgarh.
* **Streamlined Project Approvals:** While not explicitly stated, an efficient and well-functioning SEIAA and SEAC can potentially streamline the project approval process, provided that assessments are conducted thoroughly and promptly.
* **Increased Transparency and Accountability:** The public availability of the notification and the clear definition of roles and responsibilities contribute to increased transparency and accountability in the environmental assessment process.
**9. Conclusion:**
This notification represents a significant step in maintaining and updating the environmental impact assessment framework in Chhattisgarh. By establishing a new SEIAA and SEAC with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and conflict of interest guidelines, the notification aims to ensure effective environmental oversight of projects within the state. Affected industries should carefully review the notification to understand their obligations and ensure compliance with the environmental assessment process.
Key Entities Referenced
Environment Protection Act, 1986: A law enacted by the Parliament of India to provide for the protection and improvement of the environment.
Government of India: The governing body of the Republic of India.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: A ministry of the Government of India.
Central Government: The executive authority of the Union of India.
State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Chhattisgarh: A state-level authority in Chhattisgarh responsible for environmental impact assessments.
Chhattisgarh: A state in India.
Shri Debasish Das: Retired IFS, Ex. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Forest Department of Chhattisgarh and Chairman of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Chhattisgarh.
Dr. Deepak Sinha: Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Government Nagarjun Post Graduate College of Science, Rajpur and Member of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board: An environmental regulatory body in Chhattisgarh.
State Level Expert Appraisal Committee: A committee constituted to assist the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority.
SEAC, Chhattisgarh: State Level Expert Appraisal Committee in Chhattisgarh.
Dr. B.P. Nonhare: Retired Indian Forest Service, ExChief Conservator of Forest and Ex. Additional Managing Director, Oo M.D., Chhattisgarh State Forest Development Corporation, Government of Chhattisgarh and Chairman of SEAC, Chhattisgarh.
Dr. Manoj Kumar Chopkar: Associate Professor, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering National Institute of Technology Rajpur and Member of SEAC, Chhattisgarh.
Shri Kishan Singh Dhruv: Retired Chief Engineer, Mahanadi Project Rajpur, Water Resources Department, Government of Chhattisgarh and Member of SEAC, Chhattisgarh.
Dr. Shailesh Kumar Jadhav: Member; School of studies in Biotechnology, Pt Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur and Member of SEAC, Chhattisgarh
Shri. N. K. Chandrika: Member of SEAC, Chhattisgarh
Dr. Mohammad Rafique Khan: Professor Electronics Engineering Government Engineering College, Jagadalpur and Member of SEAC, Chhattisgarh.
Housing and Environment Department, Government of Chhattisgarh: A department of the Government of Chhattisgarh
Environmental Impact Assessment: An assessment of the environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or project
Environment Management Plan: A plan for managing the environmental impacts of a project.
New Delhi: The capital of India.
Raipur, CG: Capital city of Chhattisgarh, India.
Nava Rajpur Atal Nagar: A planned city in Chhattisgarh, India.
Durg, CG: A city in Chhattisgarh, India.
Jagadalpur: A city in Chhattisgarh, India.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-30112021-231477
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-30112021-231477
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण्ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 4525] नई दिल्ली, सोमवार, नवम्बर 29, 2021/अग्रहार्ण 8, 1943
No. 4525] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2021/AGRAHAYANA 8, 1943
पर्ावा रण, वन और िलवार् ुपररवतना मत्रं ालर्
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 23 नवम् बर, 2021
का.आ. 4894(अ).—पर्ाावरण (संरक्षण) 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 ा कालीन पर्ाावरण एव ं वन मंत्रालर् की अजधसूचना संख् र्ा
का.आ. 1533(अ), तारीख 14 जसतम्ब र, 2006 (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश् चात ् उक्त अजधसूचना कहा गर्ा ह)ै के अनुसरण म,ें
और भारत सरकार के पर्ाावरण, वन और िलवार् ु पररवतना मंत्रालर् की अजधसूचना संख् र्ा का.आ. 3170(अ), तारीख 29
िून, 2018 के अजधक्रमण म,ें ऐस े अजधक्रमण स े पूवा दकए गए कार्ों र्ा छोडे गए कार्ों से संबंजधत जवषर् को छोडकर,
केंद्रीर् सरकार एतिद्वारा राज्र् स्ट् तरीर् पर्ाावरण प्रभाव आकलन प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश् चात ्
प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग कहा गर्ा ह)ै का गठन जनम्न जलजखत सिस्ट् र्ों को िाजमल करत े हुए करती ह,ै अर्ाात्:
1. श्री िेबािीष िास, सेवाजनवृत आईएफएस, भूतपूवा प्रधान मुख्र् वन संरक्षक, छत् तीसग वन अध्र्क्ष
जवभाग, मकान सं.186, आदफसर कॉलोनी, धरमपुरा, कृषक नगर, रार्पुर (सीिी)
2. डॉ. िीपक जसन् हा, सहार्क आचार्,ा सिस्ट्र्
रसार्न जवभाग, नागािुान स्ट् नातकोत् तर जव्ान सरकारी महाजव्ालर्, रािपुर
ई-2, आदफसर कॉलोनी, िंकर नगर, रार्पुर-492007
3. सिस्ट् र्-सजचव, छत् तीसग पर्ाावरण संरक्षण बोड,ा नवा रािपुर अटल नगर सिस्ट्र्-सजचव
6889 GI/2021 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
2. प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग के अध्र्क्ष और सिस्ट्र् रािपत्र म ें इस अजधसूचना के प्रकािन की तारीख स े तीन वषा की
समर्ावजध के जलए कार्ाभार सभं ालेंगे।
3. प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग उि अजधसूचना म ें र्र्ा जवजनर्िष्टा िजिर्ों का प्रर्ोग और प्रदक्रर्ाओं का पालन करेगा।
4. प्राजधकरण छत् तीसग , छत् तीसग राज्र् के जलए परै ा 5 के अधीन गरठत राज्र् स्ट्तरीर् जविषे ् मल्ू र्ांकन सजमजत की
जसफ़ाररिों पर अपना जनणार् लगे ा।
5. प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग की सहार्ता के प्रर्ोिन के जलए केंद्रीर् सरकार, छत् तीसग राज्र् सरकार के परामि ा स े राज्र्
स्ट्तरीर् जविेष् मल्ू र्ांकन सजमजत (एसईएसी) (इसम ें इसके पश्चात एसईएसी, छत् तीसग कहा गर्ा ह)ै का गठन करेगी िो
जनम्नजलजखत सिस्ट्र्ों स े जमलकर बनेगी, अर्ाात ् :-
1. डॉ. बी.पी. नॉनहरे, सेवाजनवृत भारतीर् वन सेवा, भूतपूवा मख्ु र् वन संरक्षक और भतू पूवा अध्र्क्ष
अपर प्रबंध जनिेिक, महाप्रबंधक का कार्ाालर्, छततीसग राज्र् वन जवकास जनगम,
छत् तीसग सरकार, नवा रािपुर अटल नगर, वाडा सं. 49, सहर्ोग मागा के सार्, सांई
मंगलम के पास, जव्ुत नगर, िगु -ा 491010 (सीिी)
2. डॉ. मनोि कुमार चोपकर, सहर्ोगी प्रोफेसर, धात ु िोधन और सामग्री अजभर्ांजत्रकी सिस्ट्र्
जवभाग, राष्टर ीर् प्रो्ोजगकी संस्ट्र् ान, रािपुर-491010
3. श्री दकिन ससंह ध्रुव, सेवाजनवृत मुख्र् अजभर्ंता, महानिी पररर्ोिना रािपुर, िल सिस्ट्र्
संसाधन जवभाग, छत् तीसग सरकार, नवा रािापुर अटल नगर, डी-72, सेक्ट र-1, िेवेन् द्र
नगर, रार्पुर-492009
4. डॉ. िैलिे कुमार िाधव सिस्ट्र्
िैव प्रौ्ोजगकी अध् र्र्न जव्ालर्, पंजडत रजविंकर िुक्ल ा जवश् वजव्ालर्,
रार्पुर-492010, िाधव जनवास, िर् सहिं चौक, रािातलैब, रार्पुर-492001
5. श्री एन. के. चजन्द्रका सिस्ट्र्
19, नवािेिवन सोसार्टी, पचपेढी नाका, रार्पुर
6. डॉ. मोहम् मि रफीक खान सिस्ट्र्
आचार् ा इलेक्र ॉजनक् स इंिीजनर्िंरंग
सरकारी इंिीजनर्री महाजव्ालर्, िगिलपरु
7. उप सजचव सिस्ट्र्-सजचव
आवासन और पर्ाावरण जवभाग, छत् तीसग सरकार
6. एसईएसी, छत् तीसग के अध्र्क्ष और सिस्ट्र् रािपत्र म ें इस अजधसूचना के प्रकािन की तारीख स े तीन वष ा की
समर्ावजध के जलए कार्ाभार सभं ालेंगे।
7. एसईएसी, छत् तीसग उि अजधसूचना म ें र्र्ा जवजनर्िष्टा िजिर्ों का प्रर्ोग और प्रदक्रर्ाओं का पालन करेगी। ।
8. एसईएसी, छत् तीसग सामूजहक उत्तरिाजर्त्व के जसद्ांत पर कार् ा करेगी और अध्र्क्ष प्रत्र्के मामले म ें सहमजत प्राप्त
करने का प्रर्ास करेंग ेऔर र्दि सहमजत प्राप्त नहीं हो सकती, बहुमत का जवचार अजभभावी होगा।
9. जहतों के दकसी जववाि स े बचने के जलए:
(क) प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग और एसईएसी, छत् तीसग के अध्र्क्ष और सिस्ट्र् र्ह घोजषत करेंगे दक वे दकस
परामिी संगठन और दकस पररर्ोिना प्रस्ट्तावकों के सार् िुड ेहुए ह।ैं[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
(ख) प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग और एसईएसी, छत् तीसग के अध्र्क्ष और सिस्ट्र् अपने कार्ाकाल के िौरान ऐसी
दकसी भी पररर्ोिना के जलए पर्ाावरण प्रभाव आकलन (ईआईए), पर्ाावरण प्रबंधन र्ोिना तैर्ार करन े
म ें न तो कोई परामि ा िगें ,ें न ही उससे िुडेंग,े जिसका मूल् र्ांकन प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग और एसईएसी,
छत् तीसग द्वारा दकर्ा िाना ह;ै और
(ग) र्दि गत पााँच वषा म ें प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग और एसईएसी, छत् तीसग के अध्र्क्ष र्ा दकसी सिस्ट्र् न े
दकसी पररर्ोिना प्रस्ट्तावक के जलए कोई परामिी सेवा प्रिान की ह ैं र्ा ईआईए अध्र्र्नों का संचालन
दकर्ा ह,ै ऐसी जस्ट्र्जत म,ें वे ऐस े प्रस्ट्तावकों द्वारा प्रस्ट्ताजवत की िाने वाली दकसी पररर्ोिना के मल्ू र्ांकन
की प्रदक्रर्ा में प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग और एसईएसी, छत् तीसग की बैठकों म ें स्ट्वर् ं सजम्मजलत होने स े
बचेंगे।
10 . प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग और एसईएसी, छत् तीसग के जलए सजचवालर् के रूप म ें कार्ा करन े के जलए छत्त ीसग
सरकार एक अजभकरण को अजधसूजचत करेगी और वह सजचवालर् उनके सभी कानूनी कार्ों के संबंध म ें आवास, पररवहन
और ऐसी अन्र् सुजवधाओं सजहत सभी जवत्तीर् और संभार तंत्र सहार्ता प्रिान करेगा ।
11. प्राजधकरण, छत् तीसग और एसईएसी, छत् तीसग के अध्र्क्ष और सिस्ट्र्ों को बैठक फीस, र्ात्रा भत्ता और महगं ाई
भत्ता छत् तीसग राज्र् सरकार के जनर्मों के अनुसार संित् त दकर्ा िाएगा।
[फा.सं. िे.11013/41/2007-आईए.II(I)]
डॉ. सुिीत कुमार बािपेर्ी, संर्ुि सजचव
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 23rd November, 2021
S.O. 4894(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), and in supersession of the notification of the
Government of India in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, number S.O. 3170(E),
dated the 29th June, 2018, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession,
the Central Government hereby constitutes the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority,
Chhattisgarh (hereinafter referred to as the Authority, Chhattisgarh) comprising of the following Members,
namely: -
1. Shri Debasish Das, Retired IFS, Ex. Principal Chief Conservator of Chairman;
Forest, Forest Department of Chhattisgarh.
H. No. 186, Officers Colony, Dharampura, Krishak Nagar, Raipur
(CG)
2. Dr. Deepak Sinha, Assistant Professor, Member;
Department of Chemistry, Government Nagarjun Post Graduate
College of Science, Rajpur
E-2, Officers Colony, Shankar Nagar, Raipur-492007
3. Member Secretary, Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board, Member - Secretary.
Nava Rajpur Atal Nagar.
2. The Chairman and Members of the Authority, Chhattisgarh shall hold office for a term of three
years from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
3. The Authority, Chhattisgarh shall exercise such powers and follow such procedures as specified in
the said notification.
4. The Authority, Chhattisgarh shall take its decision on the recommendations of the State Level
Expert Appraisal Committee constituted under paragraph 5 for the State of Chhattisgarh.
5. For the purpose of assisting the Authority, Chhattisgarh, the Central Government, in consultation
with the State Government of Chhattisgarh, hereby constitutes the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee
(hereinafter referred to as SEAC, Chhattisgarh) comprising of the following Members, namely: -
1. Dr. B.P. Nonhare, Retired Indian Forest Service, Chairman;
Ex-Chief Conservator of Forest and Ex. Additional Managing
Director, O/o M.D., Chhattisgarh State Forest Development
Corporation, Government of Chhattisgarh, Nava Rajpur Atal
Nagar.Ward No. 49, Beside Sahyog Marg, Near Sai Manglam,
Vidyut Nagar, Durg-491001 (CG)
2. Dr. Manoj Kumar Chopkar, Associate Professor, Member;
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering National
Institute of Technology Rajpur - 491010
3. Shri Kishan Singh Dhruv, Retired Chief Engineer, Member;
Mahanadi Project Rajpur, Water Resources Department,
Government of Chhattisgarh, Nava Rajapur Atal Nagar, D-72,
Sector-1. Devendra Nagar, Raipur-492009
4. Dr. Shailesh Kumar Jadhav Member;
School of studies in Biotechnology, Pt Ravishankar Shukla
University, Raipur-492010, Jadhav Niwas, Jai Hind Chowk,
Rajatlab, Raipur-492001
5. Shri. N. K. Chandrika Member;
19, Navajedvan Society, Pachpedhi Naka, Raipur
6. Dr. Mohammad Rafique Khan Member;
Professor Electronics Engineering
Government Engineering College, Jagadalpur
7. Deputy Secretary Member - Secretary.
Housing and Environment Department,
Government of Chhattisgarh
6. The Chairman and Members of SEAC, Chhattisgarh shall hold office for a term of three years from
the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette.
7. The SEAC, Chhattisgarh shall exercise such powers and follow such procedures as specified in the
said notification.
8. The SEAC, Chhattisgarh shall function on the principle of collective responsibility and the
Chairman shall endeavor to reach a consensus in each case, and if consensus cannot be reached, the view of
the majority shall prevail.
9. In order to avoid any conflict of interest -
(a) the Chairman and Members of the Authority, Chhattisgarh and SEAC, Chhattisgarh 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, Chhattisgarh and SEAC, Chhattisgarh 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, Chhattisgarh and SEAC, Chhattisgarh during their tenure; and[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
(c) if in the past five years, the Chairman or any of the Members of the Authority, Chhattisgarh
and SEAC, Chhattisgarh 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, Chhattisgarh and SEAC, Chhattisgarh in the process of appraisal of any project
being proposed by such proponents.
10. The Government of Chhattisgarh shall notify an agency to act as Secretariat for the Authority,
Chhattisgarh and SEAC, Chhattisgarh and the Secretariat shall provide all financial and logistic support
including accommodation, transportation and such other facilities in respect of all their statutory functions.
11. The sitting fee, travelling allowances and dearness allowances to the Chairman and Members of the
Authority, Chhattisgarh and SEAC, Chhattisgarh shall be paid as per the rules of the State Government of
Chhattisgarh.
[F. No. J.11013/41/2007-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.