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DHULIKHEL, KAVRE
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
A Report
On
Environmental Impact Assessment
EIA in Nepal
In early 1980s, the need for EIA was realised in Nepal for integrating environmental aspects in
development programmes and projects. In the beginning, the donor agencies and/or development
partners encouraged and provided fund to carry out projects specific EAs. This prompted the
government to include EA requirements in their policies. In mid-1980s, the environmental
assessments of some infrastructure projects were done by ‘learning by doing approach’,
i.e.,through limited knowledge and skills. This enhanced public awareness on the importance and
benefits of the tool. This also contributed to formulate policies and environmental laws.
Although planned development was started in 1957 (2013B.S.), Nepal realized the imortance of
environment conservation in the mid-1970, and included policies since the Fifth Plan (1975-’80).
This plan included land use related policies and policies on natural resource management
The Sixth Plan (1980-’85) emphasised on the integration of environmental aspects while
constructing large-scale development projects. During this period, establishment of
Environmental Impact Study Project (EISP) in 1982 carried out environmental assessment of the
completed projects to record adverse effects on the environment.
The Ninth Plan (1997-2002) introduced policies to promote participatory EIA system, carry out
EIA study to ensure biodiversity conservation while implementing remote area development
projects, and make necessary procedures for stakeholders participation in EA process.
The Tenth Plan (2002-’07) re-emphasized to monitor the implementation status of the projects,
which carried out EIA study. The Plan for the first time recognized the need for carrying out
SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) to any policy before adoption.
The Industrial Policy 1992 has emphasized on adopting measures to minimise adverse impacts
on the environment during the establishment, expansion and diversification of industries. The
policy opens avenues to formulate guidelines and standards in order to check and minimize
adverse effects of pollution.
The National Solid Waste Management Policy, 1996 highlights the importance of carrying out
EIA prior to the selection of the final waste disposal site.
The Hydropower Policy 1992 incorporated the concept of EIA. The Hydropower Development
Policy 2001 has a policy to make necessary arrangement in order to minimise the environmental
impacts of hydropower projects and rehabilitation of displaced families.
The Irrigation Policy 1993 (revision 1997) made specific provision and urge to design and
implement irrigation and program based on the recommendations of EIA and IEE study. The
new Irrigation Policy 2003 has a working policy to identify and select irrigation projects taking
into account.
The National Wetland Policy 2003 has also included the need for carrying out EIA in accordance
with the existing laws for the development projects and actions, planned for implementation
nearyby the wetlands.
Lists of projects for EIA in Nepal
A number of government, semi-government, NGOs and private sector institutions are involved in
the implementation of EIA. Their roles and responsibilities are given below, however with
reference to Nepal.
1. Parliament
Parliament is the highest legislative body. In relation to EIA implementation it has power
and responsibility to discuss environmental policy in general, and EIA in particular,
to discuss reject or approve legislation concerning EIA mandates, and
to pass resolution for making national policy commitment to implement EIA of
development projects.
2. Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Management (PCEM)
PCEM is a multi-party committee, chaired by the senior member of the Parliament of ruling
party and it has following functions:
settling the environmental disputes at the political level,
has the power and responsibility for review, and monitoring
discuss and suggest necessary changes in the environment related bills to be tabled in the
House of Representatives,
also acts as the watch dog on the activities and performance of the Environmental related
ministries
PCEM can investigate and evaluate the policies programme of environment related
activities and recommend to take necessary actions.
3. The Cabinet
The cabinet is the highest executive body in the country. The roles of the Cabinet in regards to
environmental matters are:
discuss and approve the legislation proposals related to environment to be submitted to
the Parliament,
approves the rules and regulation related to environment, submitted by sector-specific
ministries,
discuss the environmental issues of national importance and give necessary instruction to
the concerned ministries for implementation, and
leading Ministry with EIA responsibility (MOPE in case of Nepal) is answerable to the
cabinet for their performances.
Conclusion
Thus we see that EIA is a very important step to undertaken before starting a project. The
importance of EIA can be summarized as follows.
Increasing complexity and interrelated nature of project impacts
Larger scale of development and other human activities
Greater magnitude and extent of impact on the environment
Long lasting impacts/temporal scale
Serious potential effects on biodiversity, ecosystem