In India, environmental assessment and clearance is mandatory for projects with potential to harm environment.
Legislations have defined the environmental assessment process of projects. The process as defined looks reasonable covering all
aspects to protect the environment from harmful effects due to development of projects. But, it has been observed in reality that
negative environmental impacts from many developed projects are significant and irreversible. Thus, there is a need to
strengthen the existing environmental assessment process. Time has come to improve the process to make it equivalent to similar
ones of developed countries. This is essential to achieve the goal of sustainable development. In the research paper, the author
highlights the strengthening requirements of existing process of environmental assessment of projects in India.
Keywords: Environmental Impact Assessment, Expert Appraisal Committee, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority,
Public Hearing, Strategic Environmental.
