PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT-LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Development is a continuous process and is essential to enable the population to attain a better standard of life. But it should not be at the cost of the environment. The challenge of a development pattern striving to harmonize economics with social and environmental need requires active citizen participation in public issues. Involvement of the public is one of the fundamental principles of a successful EIA process. It not only provides an opportunity to those directly affected by a project to express their views on the environmental and social impacts of the proposal but also brings about transparency in the environmental clearance system. This paper focuses on public participation in EIA and its legal frame work.