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.

Environmental Impact Assessment EIA, backed by EIA 1986 was first officially notified by MoEFCC in 1994. Hereupon, it faces plenty of challenges in implementation. Challenges in EIA implementation: (1) No independent, central authority to monitor EIA reports. - Supreme level in Lafarge Omani mining case. (2) Poor quality of EIA reports: Intends ordinary knowledge is limited by State IAA board. (3) Fraudulent EIAs - Standeli band, Kali River project found - criticized by N&As. (4) Limited public engagement and inadequate implementation: Be IAS-PERA warehouse - Many EIAs not consulting local public - instead leaving for away NRAs (non-local). (5) Arbitrary exclusion action - last 5 years, (100+ notifications) for EIAs adopted.