What Kind Of EIA Is Being Done For The Port City?
Ranil Senanayake
It has been reported that the future of the controversial Colombo Port Cityproject is to be decided on the findings of a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report due shortly, a senior official said. The EIA is being prepared by the Coast Conservation Department according to the news. We hope that this is not a ruse to try and subvert the EIA process. This move prompts a discussion as to what an Environmental Impact Report (EIA) is and what areas of public concerns should be addressed in it.
The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an environmental impact assessment as “the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made.”
The citizens of Colombo have on numerous occasions, requested a true EIA, one that addresses biophysical and social effects of the proposed ‘new city’ to the environs of Colombo. We to watch the Coast Conservation’s EIA and watch the committee of ten to see if they accept any EIA that does not address the biophysical and social effects.
It is also time for the Central Environment Authority (CEA) to pick up their game. They are appointed to protect the environment and citizens of Sri Lanka, have they not requested a true EIA from the proposed operators of the project? What is their role in all this?Read More