Before any prospecting licence is given to an exploration company, an environment impact assessment (EIA) is required, says Environment Department director Sandeep Singh.
She highlighted this yesterday during a virtual submission to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) regarding the audit report on the management of environmental impact assessments. Ms Singh was responding to a question from Opposition MP Aseri Radrodro.
Mr Radrodro had asked whether companies were required to provide an EIA before they were given prospecting licences.
In response, Ms Singh said before any prospecting licencing was given, the ministry contacted the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources.
“Before any prospecting licences are given, we have been in touch with the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources and they are aware that before anyone can carry out any carry exploration work, the Environment Management Act covers land, air, and sea,” she said.
“They are required to undergo the EIA process which includes submitting an EIA application form and that is where the process starts.
“They are required to undergo the process where they will be required to carry out a full detailed EIA or carry out an EIA reduced scope.
“It depends on where they will do the exploration, what all is there at the site and the consultations, the consent that they have got from the landowning unit — so these are all part of the EIA process that the department ensures that it is undertaken before any approval is given or before a determination is made,” Ms Singh said.
