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.

Environment Impact Assessment EIA is deemed necessary under Environmental Protection Act 1986 though recent amendments have made certain changes. Weakness of EIA regime - (1) Faster clearance without adequate auditing in cases. (2) Lack of local participation. (3) Civil societies feed backs are ignored not incorporated in the study. (4) Lack of following all the steps just to expedite the project. (5) Lack of specific guidelines based on geography of the region. Suggestions - (1) Mandatory EIA for projects of environmental consequences. (2) Adherence to INCT guidelines. (3) Adopt precautionary principles to safeguard environment. (4) Region specific and hazard specific EIA guide lines. (5) Civil society and end user stakeholder consultation. (6) Transparent working of EIA procedure. There will help in ensuring sustainability of project balancing conservation with development (concerned product care).

India generates 5-7 million tonnes of plastic annually and only 8% are recycled. IPCC. Serious threat - Low degradation cycle. Marine biodiversity (Garbage patch-Pacific). Microplastics enter DNA. Mitigation measures - (1) Reduced production of plastics and promote jute bags. (2) Improve circular economy & recycling plastics. (3) Ban on single use plastics. (4) International collaboration - Neptune convention, Vienna convention, Marpol convention - Ocean safety. (5) Global plastic treaty being negotiated. Government initiatives - (1) Plastic waste management rules. (2) Ban on single use plastics BoK. (3) EPR regime. (4) Promotion of circular economy through recycling plastics. These efforts along with global partnerships can address the menace of plastic pollution.