Answer
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a vital process in India that assesses the potential environmental effects of major projects prior to their approval, ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated into decision-making and promoting sustainable development. The effectiveness of EIA hinges on the participation of stakeholders, especially environmental NGOs and activists.

Role of NGOs and Activists in influencing EIA outcome:

• Advocacy and Awareness: NGOs play a crucial role in raising public awareness about the environmental consequences and mobilizing community support.
  For example: The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) in India mobilized local communities against the Sardar Sarovar Dam,
• Monitoring Compliance: NGOs actively monitor projects and report violations to ensure compliance with environmental regulations throughout and post the EIA process.
  For example: The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) scrutinized the Mathurapur Water Supply Project in West Bengal, highlighting deficiencies in its EIA regarding water resources and biodiversity.
• Legal Intervention: Activists frequently use legal channels to challenge inadequate or non-compliant EIAs.
  For example: In the Khandadhar Iron Ore Mine in Odisha, local activists and NGOs successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to halt the project due to flaws in its EIA documentation.
• Research and Evidence: NGOs conduct independent research that provides essential data to challenge government or corporate assessments.
• Public Participation: NGOs facilitate community engagement in the EIA process, ensuring that diverse perspectives are included.
  For example: In the Kochi-Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline project, local NGOs like the Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad facilitated community engagement through public meetings, ensuring diverse perspectives were heard.
• Policy Advocacy: NGOs advocate for the development of stronger environmental policies and EIA guidelines.
  For example: The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) significant influence over the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu highlighted safety and environmental concerns prompting greater scrutiny and changes to safety protocols.
• Capacity Building: NGOs equip communities with training and resources, empowering them to engage effectively in the EIA process.

Four examples of Influence of Environmental NGOs and Activists in EIA Processes:

1. Niyamgiri Bauxite Mining Project (Odisha)

• NGOs/Activists: Survival International, Amnesty International, Dongria Kondh tribe (PVTG).
• Project: Vedanta-Orissa Mining Corporation Ltd (OMC) joint venture sought to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri Hills
• Role: Activists highlighted deforestation, biodiversity loss, and tribal rights violations.
• Outcome: The Supreme Court acknowledged the tribe’s cultural, religious, and spiritual rights, empowering the Gram Sabha to assess potential violations caused by the project.

2. Mumbai Coastal Road Project (Maharashtra)

• NGOs/Activists: Vanashakti and the Conservation Action Trust
• Project: Coastal road threatening marine ecosystems and fisherfolk.
• Role: Filed petitions on flawed EIAs, lack of consultation, and environmental impact.
• Outcome: Bombay High Court halted construction in 2019 due to improper clearances and called for a more thorough environmental evaluation.

3. POSCO Steel Plant (Odisha)

• NGOs/Activists: Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, Greenpeace India.
• Project: $12 billion steel plant with deforestation and displacement risks.
• Role: Protests and legal challenges over inadequate EIAs and community displacement.
• Outcome: Environmental clearance suspended; POSCO withdrew from the project in 2017, citing environmental and regulatory difficulties.

4. Aarey Forest Metro Car Shed (Mumbai)

• NGOs/Activists: Save Aarey Movement and Vanashakti
• Project: Construction of a metro car shed in the Aarey Forest, Mumbai
• Role: Highlighted flawed EIA reports that underestimated the project’s impact on biodiversity and the livelihoods of indigenous communities.
• Outcome: Maharashtra government halted the construction in 2019. In 2020, the newly elected state government decided to relocate the metro car shed to an alternative site, saving around 800 acres of Aarey’s green cover.

NGOs and activists are vital in shaping EIAs in India, promoting sustainability and accountability. Emphasising sustainable development is crucial for preserving resources and ensuring a healthy environment. As challenges increase, their continued engagement will drive rigorous assessments and allow incorporation of sustainable alternatives, enhancing environmental governance for a livable Earth for generations to come.