Frequently Asked Questions

• Environmental baseline data collection
• Life cycle assessment
• Greenhouse gas inventory and emission studies
• Energy conservation building code (ECBC) studies
• Traffic impact assessment
• High-performance building design
• Rainwater harvesting
• Energy simulation studies
• Urban heat island effect studies
• Ventilation studies
• Geology and hydrogeology studies
• Ecology and biodiversity studies
• Socio-economic studies
• Soil studies

In addition to these studies, an agency conducting an EIA must comprehensively consider all aspects of a project. They should present a clear overall view of the project’s environmental impacts, along with an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) that outlines mitigation measures for the identified impacts.

The EIA Notification of 2006 specifies the following steps for conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):

• Screening

  Determine whether an EIA is required and categorize the project.

• Scoping

  Define the terms of reference for the EIA studies.

• Public Consultation

  Define the terms of reference for the EIA studies.

• Appraisal

  Define the terms of reference for the EIA studies.

Following the appraisal, Environmental Clearance (EC) is granted to the project.

AESPL supports our client at all stages of this process including for filing applications on the Parivesh portal (www.parivesh.nic.in).

The EIA Notification 2006 classifies projects into two main categories based on their potential environmental impacts:

• Category A

  Projects with significant potential impacts.

• Category B

  Projects with lesser potential impacts, further divided into
  B1: Requires full EIA studies.
  B2: Requires environmental clearance but not full EIA studies.

The types of projects for which EIA studies are required to be carried out are stated in the Schedule to the EIA Notification 2006.

No. Besides Environmental Clearance (EC), projects must also obtain Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from the State Pollution Control Board. These consents are mandated under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. CTE is required before starting construction, while CTO is necessary before beginning operations.

AESPL can assist our client for making necessary applications and following due process in obtaining CTE and CTO as well.

No, they aren’t.

Projects near the coast require clearance under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2019.

Projects proposed on forest land need clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980. Additionally, if the site is within a National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, or Eco-Sensitive Zone of National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary, a Wild Life Clearance under the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 is necessary.

AESPL can assist our client for making necessary applications and following due process in obtaining CRZ clearance, Forest Clearance and NBWL Clearance as well. Our highly experienced teams of ecology and biodiversity experts are well-suited for providing the necessary support required.

Each of the above-mentioned clearances follow specific processes and procedures. CRZ Clearance is granted after conducting Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies, which include an additional component of marine studies. AESPL’s CRZ department comprises several experts in Marine studies and our in-house laboratory is amongst the handful of laboratories in India that are accredited by NABL for marine parameters.

Specialized surveys and studies are also required for obtaining Forest Clearance and Wild Life Clearance.

The timeline for granting clearances varies based on several site-specific factors, so a strict deadline cannot be set. For projects requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before starting activities, proponents should note the following:

• Baseline data collection must be conducted over one season (3 months) in summer (March, April, and May) or winter (November, December, and January).
• For a Comprehensive EIA, data collection over three seasons (9 months) is required, as specified by the statute.
• Data must be gathered for various specialized studies, considering scientific and technological aspects to be covered, along with additional desk work.

Following the appraisal, Environmental Clearance (EC) is granted to the project.

EIA studies are conducted by specialized agencies with sector-specific experience and teams of experts. These agencies are accredited by the Quality Council of India – National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (QCI-NABET) under the Scheme for Accreditation of EIA Consultant Organisations. Only EIA reports prepared by QCI-NABET accredited consultants can be submitted to the Central or State level statutory authorities for appraisal as part of the EC process.

AESPL is a QCI-NABET accredited ‘A’ category EIA Consultant Organisation.

Environmental baseline data collection for air, water, and soil quality assessment must be conducted by a laboratory that is either:

• Recognised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986; and/or
• Accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) under ISO/IEC 17025:2017

Our in-house laboratory is both MoEFCC recognised and NABL accredited (Certificate No. TC-7085).

Ground water EIA, if required, must be carried out by an agency accredited by QCI-NABET under the Scheme for Accreditation of Ground Water Consultant Organisations.

AESPL can provide our clients with support for ground water EIA through our affiliates.

Similarly, each of the specialized studies mentioned above requires specific credentials for the agency conducting them.

‘A’ category proposals are appraised at the Central level by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), appointed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC). B category proposals are appraised at the State level by the State level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and State level Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), appointed by the State government.

As mentioned previously, CTE and CTO are granted by the State Pollution Control Board under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1981. The application is filed online and contains information pertaining to proposed project activities, raw materials used, water usage and wastewater treatment, air pollution, waste (hazardous waste, solid waste, etc.) generated and its treatment and disposal, etc.

Before applying for CRZ clearance, the layout of the proposed project must be superimposed on the CRZ maps prepared for the site. This process, known as CRZ mapping, ensures that the proposed project is permissible at the site according to the CRZ Notification 2019.

In addition to CRZ mapping, environmental impact assessment studies must be conducted with a CRZ perspective, following the norms outlined in the CRZ Notification 2019.

If a project requires both EC and CRZ Clearance, an amalgamated process incorporating elements of both applicable clearance processes must be followed, meeting the requirements of both the EIA Notification 2006 and the CRZ Notification 2019.

Different compliances have specific submission deadlines. Here are the key dates for common compliance filings:

AESPL’s specialised Compliances team assists our clients in submission of all the above returns and obtaining necessary permits under the above rules as well.