Comprehensive technical, legal, and regulatory support for prior Environmental Clearance (EC) under the EIA Notification, 2006. From schedule screening and Category A/B1/B2 determination to NABET-accredited seasonal baseline studies, Terms of Reference (ToR) scoping, public hearing coordination, and EAC/SEAC appraisal management on the PARIVESH 2.0 portal.
Speak with an environmental compliance lead to screen your project against the EIA Notification schedule before spending on unnecessary studies.
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An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a systematic prediction exercise that evaluates the potential environmental, ecological, and socio-economic consequences of a proposed development project prior to execution. Governed by the EIA Notification, 2006 under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, an EIA establishes the baseline environment around a site, models air/water/noise impacts, and formulates a costed Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to prevent or mitigate adverse effects.
Environmental Clearance (EC) is a statutory prerequisite for project initiation—not every project requires an EIA study. Many projects that apply for EIA turn out to be outside the Notification Schedule entirely and require only State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) consents (CTE/CTO). We screen your project early, preventing unnecessary expenditure and managing the entire clearance pipeline through the central PARIVESH 2.0 workflow portal.
The EIA Notification divides developmental activities into categories based on spatial scale, capacity threshold, and potential environmental impacts. Settling the category early is critical to project timelines.
Projects with broad spatial impact or heavy pollution profiles (e.g., primary metallurgy, thermal power plants, major ports, national highways). Appraised at the central level by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under MoEFCC. Requires full EIA report and mandatory public consultation.
State-level projects that cross specified capacity thresholds. Appraised by the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and granted by SEIAA. Requires approved Terms of Reference (ToR), 3-month baseline seasonal data monitoring, a formal EIA report, and a public hearing.
Projects evaluated by SEAC/SEIAA as having localized, low-intensity environmental impacts. Category B2 projects are explicitly exempted from conducting full EIA studies and public hearings, drastically reducing clearance timelines to 3–6 months.
The regulatory process under the EIA Notification, 2006 comprises four sequential stages managed through the PARIVESH system.
Applies solely to Category B projects. The committee reviews Form 1 and the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) to determine whether the proposal requires a detailed EIA study (Category B1) or can be granted clearance directly without an EIA report (Category B2).
The EAC or SEAC formulates comprehensive Terms of Reference (ToR) defining the precise site-specific environmental concerns, monitoring parameters, and baseline study boundaries that the EIA report must cover.
A two-part process involving a public hearing hosted by the SPCB at the project site and written responses gathered from local stakeholders. Essential for Category A and B1 projects to address community environmental concerns.
Detailed scrutiny of the final EIA report, public hearing proceedings, and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) by EAC or SEAC, culminating in a recommendation to MoEFCC or SEIAA for the grant or rejection of Environmental Clearance.
Our structured, stage-by-stage advisory roadmap ensures full compliance without losing critical monitoring seasons.
We review project specifications, site coordinate boundaries, and production capacities against the EIA Notification schedule to confirm whether clearance is needed and construct the legal case for Category B2 vs B1.
Drafting Form 1, Form 1A (for building projects), conceptual site plans, and the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR), followed by digital submission on the MoEFCC PARIVESH 2.0 portal.
Representing the project before the SEAC/EAC committee to secure rational ToR guidelines, preventing unreasonable monitoring clauses or unnecessary study scopes.
Coordinating with QCI/NABET-accredited environmental consultants to execute ambient air, water, soil, noise, biological, and socio-economic baseline sampling across a full non-monsoon season (3 months).
Compiling the draft EIA report and costed Environmental Management Plan (EMP). Assisting with SPCB public hearing logistics, executive summary publication, and drafting official point-wise response matrices.
Presenting the final EIA/EMP before the appraisal committee, addressing technical queries, securing formal recommendations, and obtaining the final Environmental Clearance letter.
We screen every project rigorously against the EIA schedule. If your unit is outside the schedule or eligible for B2 exemption, we advocate for exemption rather than selling redundant EIA baseline studies.
Environmental baseline data collection requires a full 3-month non-monsoon season. We align ToR applications strictly with seasonal calendars so you never lose an entire monitoring cycle.
We partner with QCI/NABET-accredited environmental consulting organizations and NABL-certified laboratories, ensuring study data stands up to strict EAC/SEAC committee appraisal.
Our regulatory team manages technical queries, document re-uploads, and committee presentation decks directly on PARIVESH 2.0, minimizing administrative rejections and delays.
Environmental Clearance is required only if your project falls under the Schedule of the EIA Notification, 2006 and meets or exceeds specified capacity thresholds (e.g., building projects above 20,000 sq.m built-up area, mining leases, chemical manufacturing, etc.). Projects outside this schedule require only SPCB Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO).
Category B1 projects require a complete EIA report, 3 months of baseline environmental monitoring, Terms of Reference (ToR), and a public hearing. Category B2 projects are smaller or lower-impact units that are exempt from conducting an EIA study and public hearing, receiving clearance directly based on Form 1 and the Pre-Feasibility Report.
PARIVESH (Pro-Active and Responsive facilitation by Interactive, Virtuous and Environmental Single-window Hub) is the single-window online portal managed by MoEFCC for submitting, tracking, and processing applications for Environmental, Forest, Wildlife, and CRZ clearances across India.
Baseline environmental monitoring (covering ambient air, water quality, soil, noise, flora, and fauna) must be carried out for one full non-monsoon season (3 consecutive months), usually during winter, pre-monsoon (summer), or post-monsoon seasons.
Public hearings are conducted by the respective State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and presided over by the District Collector/Magistrate. Exemptions apply to Category B2 projects, building and construction projects, industrial estate units with pre-approved EIA, and specific defense or strategic projects.
Under current regulations, Environmental Clearance is valid for 10 years for industrial projects, 30 years for mining projects (subject to lease validity), and 7 years for building and infrastructure projects, extensible upon formal application to the committee.
No. Carrying out any construction work, land development, or machinery installation prior to obtaining prior Environmental Clearance constitutes a statutory violation under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, subjecting the project proponent to heavy penalties and legal action.
Avoid costly baseline delays and incorrect categorization. Speak with our PARIVESH regulatory specialists today for a preliminary schedule audit.
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