Indian expert sees gaps in our environmental laws

By Ifham Nizam

 Sri Lanka has strong environmental laws for implementing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, but there are some gaps which need to be addressed to achieve the standards of the best international practices, says an Indian scientist.

 Speaking at a Seminar in Colombo, Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment Director Nivit Kumar Yadav said that  proper data systems, good quality EIA reports, development of proper review systems, to evaluate EIA reports, enhancing the involvement of civil society, and compliance of approved projects through well-prepared Environmental Management Plan (EMPs), were essential.

 “Sri Lanka needs to improve the transparency when it comes to environmental compliance, which will push industries to take extra measures to comply with statutory norms”, Yadav said.

 The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, India, have collaborated to conduct a workshop-cum-training programme on strengthening the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in Sri Lanka.

 Although Sri Lanka has strong environmental laws under the National Environmental Act, it has to face various challenges, when it comes to implementation of those laws, according to the CEA and CSE.  To achieve the objective of implementing EIA for prescribed development projects, data collection, impact assessment study, the preparation of the EIA report, and implementation of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to facilitate compliance monitoring have to be executed in full spirit.

As for implementation, the EIA process responsibilities lie with all relevant stakeholders, CEA, and the project proponents. There is also a need to improve the quality of the EIA report since decisions are made on the basis of the recommendations of the EIA report. Keeping this in mind, the CEA and CSE are conducting workshops-cum-capacity building programme to enhance the knowledge of environmental regulators to ensure better implementation of EIA in Sri Lanka.

 Supun S Pathirage, Chairman, CEA, and  P B Hemantha Jayasinghe, Director General, CEA, expressed their  gratitude  to  the  CSE for their contribution  in  handling  such  a workshop and pointed out the benefits of environment conservation work in Sri Lanka, through strengthening the EIA process.