The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regime in India remains weak and is often reduced to a procedural formality. In light of this statement, examine the key challenges in EIA implementation and suggest reforms.

EIA Regime - was introduced in India in the 1990s to assess the impact of large projects & industries on local environment & take necessary steps. Key challenges to EIA Implementation - lack of awareness among general population about the provision of EIA for large projects, lack of skilled EIA Professionals, inadequate mechanisms to track applications, procedures & response, lack of stakeholder consultation - w/ civil society, NGOs, locals, drawn-out EIA Process - due to lack of coordination, neglect of STIs in EIA SA during EIA.

Reforms - local language awareness programs for EIA, introduction of EIA courses in colleges/universities, leveraging Gram Sabha for enforcing EIA, maintaining a central & multiple regional databases for tracking progress on EIA procedure, setting timelines for various processes & sub-processes under EIA, strict penalties for violation of environment Management Plan.