The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
("MoEF&CC") through an Office Memorandum dated 7 July
2021 has published the Standard Operating Procedure
("SOP") for identification and handling of violation
cases under the Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA")
Notification, 2006.
EIA is a planning tool to help integrate the environmental
concerns into developmental process at the initial stage of project
planning and design. The EIA Notification, 2006 has been notified
under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 ("Act") and
it regulates the environmental clearance ("EC") process
in India.
This SOP has been framed in compliance with the order dated
24.05.2021 passed by the National Green Tribunal ("NGT")
in the case of Tanaji B. Gambhire v. Chief Secretary Government
of Maharashtra and Ors. [Appeal No. 34 / 2020 (WZ)] wherein
the NGT had directed the MoEF&CC to frame this SOP.