Star-Rating System for State EIA Authorities Withdrawn
Why in the news
The Environment Ministry told the National Green Tribunal that it had withdrawn the star-rating scheme for State Environmental Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs). The case was then closed.
Key facts
- Introduced on 17 January 2022 to reward states for quick environmental clearances.
- Rating range: 0 to 7 stars.
- Criteria: days taken to approve, adherence to EIA timelines and efficiency before approval.
- Origin: Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba chaired a November 2021 meeting on Ease of Doing Business.
Legal challenge
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Petitioner | Meenava Thantai, Tamil Nadu fishermen’s association |
| Counsel | Ritwick Dutta and Stanly Hebzon Singh |
| Allegation | Arbitrary design that diluted project scrutiny required by the 2006 EIA Notification |
| NGT bench | bench of Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana together with expert member Satyagopal Korlapati |
| Result | Ministry declared 2022 memorandum inoperative; case infructuous |
About SEIAAs
- Bodies set up by MoEF&CC to apply the EIA Notification at state level.
- They grant environmental clearance to Category B projects, which are smaller than Category A ones.
Significance
- A policy reversal, accepting worries that speed was valued above safeguards.
- Better scrutiny of Category B projects under the EIA 2006 framework.
- Shows growing judicial and civil society oversight.
Way forward
- The ministry may design a new evaluation framework with revised criteria.
Exam angle
- Authority rated: SEIAA; clearance category: B.
- Forum: National Green Tribunal.
- Governing notification: EIA 2006.