STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESMENT OF A CITY

Abstract

The current trend of industrialization and urbanization in the developing countries has a huge impact on the environment. The absence of urban environmental planning and management strategies has resulted in greater concern for future urban development. In these developing and transitional countries, EIA has been widely practiced as a planning tool but due to its extensive use certain limitations are now-a-days recognized with regard to achieve sustainable development. It is also noted that the environment has continued to be harshly degraded despite the execution of EIA. Many governments and environmental assessors are currently showing great concerns regarding the potential environmental impacts of decisions made regarding policy, plan and programs. The increasing knowledge of the findings of policy and decision making theory in the environmental assessment community has recently led to a debate on the theoretical foundations and the appropriate practical use of strategic environmental assessment (SEA). In accordance with the same, most of the recent suggestions on how to improve practice have been influenced, focusing particularly on a better unification of SEA into ‘real’ decision making and procedural flexibility. The adoption of SEA as a means to achieve sustainable development in developing countries should be made sure. There is a need for an integrated approach to pursue a path of sustainable development through application and proper execution of SEA by proper research and preparation of an SEA directive mentioning a proper procedure and guidelines. The case study taken for this study is Dholera Special Investment Region which is located along the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor and is perceived to be developed as the largest industrial area of the country. The SEA procedure has been adopted and baseline data and environmental quality data have been collected from the concerned authorities and departments of the government and Dholera Special Investment Region Development Plan has been studied and analysis is done. After the analysis of data and development plan, some Environmental and Social Impacts have been identified and pointed out and mitigation measures have been suggested for them. It is concluded that the things which are planned for development of the area are the best possible that could be done. The location selected is the most attractive considering its proximity to big cities and the ongoing infrastructure projects and the climatic conditions. Proposed development have been properly planned which will increase the standard of living of people and health facilities. The development of the largest industrial development of the country which will be developed will be a boost for the economy of the country and will take India to global map. Environment is given a major importance in all the planning and development policies and it is finally concluded that an integrated approach is considered in planning and development of this Special Investment region as sustainable development is giving a key priority in all aspects at plan, policy and program levels all throughout the process.