{"id":55179,"date":"2023-04-14T18:59:44","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T13:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/?p=55179"},"modified":"2023-04-14T18:59:46","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T13:29:46","slug":"role-of-consultants-in-the-environmental-public-hearing-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/role-of-consultants-in-the-environmental-public-hearing-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Role of Consultants in the Environmental Public Hearing Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The public hearing is crucial to a successful <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/environmental-impact-assessment-eia\">Environmental Impact Assessment<\/a><\/strong> (EIA) procedure. An Environmental public hearing serves as a means for individuals who are directly affected to voice their concerns and promotes transparency in the environmental clearance process. The critical difference between public consultation and participation is that the former is a passive process of requesting written input from the public on their concerns. In contrast, the latter involves more active public engagement, including dialogue, examination, consideration, and response. In other words, public consultation is generally conducted in a &#8220;listening mode,&#8221; while public participation goes a step further and considers active participation and engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Page Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/role-of-consultants-in-the-environmental-public-hearing-process\/#Process_of_Environmental_Public_Hearing\" >Process of Environmental Public Hearing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/role-of-consultants-in-the-environmental-public-hearing-process\/#Role_of_Consultants_in_the_Environmental_Public_Hearing_Process\" >Role of Consultants in the Environmental Public Hearing Process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/role-of-consultants-in-the-environmental-public-hearing-process\/#Projects_Exempted_from_Environmental_Public_Hearing\" >Projects Exempted from Environmental Public Hearing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/role-of-consultants-in-the-environmental-public-hearing-process\/#Regulations_governing_Environmental_Public_Hearing\" >Regulations governing Environmental Public Hearing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/role-of-consultants-in-the-environmental-public-hearing-process\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Process_of_Environmental_Public_Hearing\"><\/span>Process of Environmental Public Hearing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Public\ninvolvement was introduced in India in 1997 in the form of public The process of\nEnvironmental Public Hearing is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The process begins with the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) issuing a notice in at least two newspapers circulating in the region, one in the local language.<\/li><li>The notice includes the date, time, and location of the public hearing, and the public has 30 days to provide written suggestions, views, comments, and objections to the SPCB.<\/li><li>The public has access to the executive summary of the project&#8217;s salient features in both the local language and English and the EIA report, which can be obtained from various departments.<\/li><li>The SPCB forms a public hearing panel that includes representatives from SPCB, the district collector or their nominee, state government representatives dealing with the project, up to three representatives of the local Panchayat\/municipality, and up to three senior citizens nominated by the district collector.<\/li><li>After the public hearing, the project developer will receive a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the SPCB and submit an application to the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests for environmental clearance.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Role_of_Consultants_in_the_Environmental_Public_Hearing_Process\"><\/span>Role of Consultants in the Environmental Public Hearing Process<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Project\nproponents hire consultants to prepare Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports.\nThe role of the consultants is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Consultants are responsible for identifying\nand assessing potential environmental impacts and proposing measures to\nmitigate those impacts.<\/li><li>Consultants assist in preparing the public\nhearing notice and executive summary of the EIA report, which are to be made\navailable to the public.<\/li><li>During the public hearing, consultants are\npresent to provide information and answer questions related to the EIA report\nand potential environmental impacts.<\/li><li>Consultants also participate in discussions\nand provide additional information as needed during the public hearing.<\/li><li>Consultants are responsible for compiling and\naddressing any concerns or objections raised during the public hearing and\nmaking necessary revisions to the EIA report.<\/li><li>Consultants assist in preparing the final EIA\nreport, which incorporates any changes made due to the public hearing process.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Projects_Exempted_from_Environmental_Public_Hearing\"><\/span>Projects Exempted from Environmental Public Hearing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nprojects exempted from the public consultation process are as follows: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Small-scale industrial undertakings located in notified or designated industrial areas\/industrial estates, areas marked for industries under the jurisdiction of industrial development authorities, and mining projects (major minerals) with lease areas up to 25 hectares.<\/li><li>The widening and strengthening of highways, units located in export processing zones and special economic zones, and modernization of existing irrigation projects are also exempted from public hearings.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note &#8211;<\/strong> The Ministry of Environment and Forests\n(MoEF) remains the nodal agency for granting environmental clearance for these\nprojects, regardless of their exemption from public hearings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Regulations_governing_Environmental_Public_Hearing\"><\/span>Regulations governing Environmental Public Hearing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986<\/strong>: This Act provides the legal framework for protecting and improving the environment. It empowers the Central Government to take enact legislations to protect and improve the environment. The E(P) Act provides for establishing various regulatory bodies, such as the State Pollution Control Boards, to implement the provisions of the Act.<\/li><li><strong>The EIA Notification, 2006<\/strong>: This notification outlines the procedure and requirements for conducting EIAs in India. It specifies the projects and activities that require an EIA and the procedure for conducting such hearings.<\/li><li><strong>The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974<\/strong>: This Act provides for the prevention and control of water pollution and empowers the Central and State Pollution Control Boards to take measures to control and prevent water pollution.<\/li><li><strong>The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, of 1981<\/strong> provides for the prevention and control of air pollution. It empowers the Central and State Pollution Control Boards to take measures to control and prevent air pollution.<\/li><li><strong>The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010<\/strong><sup><a class=\"text-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/greentribunal.gov.in\/sites\/default\/files\/act_rules\/National_Green_Tribunal_Act,_2010.pdf\"><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/sup>: This Act establishes the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to handle environmental disputes and provide effective and speedy disposal of environmental protection and conservation cases.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Environmental Public Hearing is a crucial process for seeking public opinion, comments, and objections on any proposed project or activity that is likely to impact the environment significantly. EPH is governed by the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, which provides a comprehensive legal framework for conducting EPHs in India. Public Hearings are essential in ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective public participation in the decision-making process related to projects or activities with potential environmental impacts. They allow stakeholders, including local communities and NGOs, to voice their opinions, express their concerns, and offer suggestions to improve the project&#8217;s environmental impact. An environmental public hearing ensures that the proposed project or activity is carefully evaluated for its environmental impact, and the opinions, comments, and objections raised during the EPH are considered by the appraisal committee while preparing its report. This helps to ensure that the decision-making process related to projects or activities with potential environmental impacts is fair, transparent, and inclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read Our Article<\/b>: <mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/how-to-conduct-public-hearing-during-eia\/\">How To Conduct Public Hearing During EIA?<\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The public hearing is crucial to a successful Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure. An Environmental public hearing serves as a means for individuals who are directly affected to voice their concerns and promotes transparency in the environmental clearance process. The critical difference between public consultation and participation is that the former is a passive process [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":55183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3161],"tags":[3442],"acf":{"service_id":"688"},"authorName":"Suchandra Mukherjee","authorImageUrl":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/MicrosoftTeams-image-52-1.jpg","authorDescription":"Suchandra is a 5th Year Law Student, pursuing Law from University of Mumbai. She has published 100+ Articles and Blogs on Legal Portals and International Multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journals. She is adept at legal research and can write fast SEO-friendly creative articles and blog posts on legal topics. She loves to paint and watch thriller movies in her free time.","postViews":2606,"readingTime":4,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55179"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55179"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55185,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55179\/revisions\/55185"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}