Delhi State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) — whose tenure expired over a year ago — have been reconstituted for a three-year term.
A builder informed National Green Tribunal in May that since SEIAA and SEAC had been dissolved in September last year, it has been causing a delay in projects that require environmental clearances .
Constituted through a notification by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MOEF&CC), SEIAA and SEAC have been tasked with examining all construction projects that require environmental clearances under the 2006 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification. These include residential complexes, hotels, commercial projects and infrastructure developments exceeding a specified built-up area.
After a project has been recommended by SEAC, it goes to SEIAA for the final approval. Apart from these two bodies, some mega projects need approval from the Expert Appraisal Committee of the MOEF&CC.
According to a notification of the MOEF&CC dated October 9, a three-member SEIAA will be headed by Satish Chandra Srivastav. Other members include Charu Dutta Singh and member secretary of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
“All decisions of the SEIAA will be taken unanimously. In case a decision is taken by majority, the details of the views—for and against it — will be recorded in the minutes and a copy sent to the Central Govt,” stated the notification.
Nityanand Srivastava has been appointed as the chairperson of the 10-member SEAC, while the senior environment engineer (EIA) of DPCC will act as member secretary. Other members include professors from universities. “The sitting fees, travelling allowances and dearness allowances to the chairman and members of the two bodies shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of rules of the Union Territory administration,” it added.
Activist Bhavreen Kandhari said, “For long, environmental clearances have been delayed due to bureaucratic hurdles and inadequate scrutiny. The reconstitution of the bodies will break that cycle—bringing in transparency and speed.”
