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Public consultation deadline on #DraftEIA2020 ended yesterday. The campaign against EIA was quite overwhelming at a personal level. I have been tracking policy consultations(check pinned tweet) since 2014 and this was probably one of best from a public participation point of view
According to media reports, 20 Lakh comments were sent to MOEF ! @tandem_research ‘s survey report suggests that the majority of the respondents were aware of the EIA and 61 % of the total respondents knew of the Draft EIA 2020.
Report available at https://tandemresearch.org/assets/EIA-TR-Sirohi-Shantha.pdf
Report available at https://tandemresearch.org/assets/EIA-TR-Sirohi-Shantha.pdf
Environment ministry @moefcc uploaded the draft EIA 2020 on 12th March (just before lockdown). On 23rd March ,the Ministry notified the same in the gazette. On 7th May MOEF extended the deadline to 30th June. This was subsequently extended to 11th Aug by the Delhi High Court.
. @journomayank was one of the first to write a detailed piece on the dangers and implications of the proposed changes. https://india.mongabay.com/2020/03/indias-proposed-overhaul-of-environment-clearance-rules-could-dilute-existing-regulations/
@CPR_India sought #DraftEIA2020 withdrawal and deferring of public consultation during global pandemic. They requested the government to release the nature of comments received and the reasons for acceptance/rejection of these. @kanchikohli @iep_india
https://cprindia.org/sites/default/files/Letter%20EIA%202020%20deferment%2C%20covid%2C%2024.3.2020.pdf
https://cprindia.org/sites/default/files/Letter%20EIA%202020%20deferment%2C%20covid%2C%2024.3.2020.pdf
. @krithika_dinesh and @meenaxshikapoor started @ReDraftEIA2020 to raise awareness about the #DraftEIA2020 . They even created explainers on the draft in English, Hindi and Malayalam. Note : Govt is yet to translate the Draft EIA Notification in 22 Official Languages
More awareness generated because of efforts from @FFFIndia @LetMeBreathe_In @thetoonguy etc. Many content creators generated their own content to facilitate conversations in regional languages. @ElizabethPrapti ’s videos were quite popular among the Malayali audience.
Meanwhile the Govt. tried to muzzle the digital campaign. Fridays for future was charged with UAPA( anti-terrorism law ) which was withdrawn later citing the same as “clerical error”. The Let Me Breathe website was blocked for a temporary period which was revoked after outrage.
. @DeshmaneAkshay ‘s brilliant scoops exposed the government completely (where i feel that the opposition parties didn’t really bother to utilise the same). https://www.huffingtonpost.in/author/akshay-deshmane/
. @Jairam_Ramesh ’s letter communications with @PrakashJavdekar added more flavour to the conversations. As usual, the Minister's response aimed at headline management without showing any intent to engage with anyone criticising the draft. https://twitter.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1292774783663431682
Multiple High Courts issued notices to the centre on various aspects like publishing the document in 22 official languages, delaying the finalisation of EIA notification etc. Centre got translations only in Marathi, Nepali and Odia. No contempt ? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z6-QKXoQz6MLNVagEQqebWhywNSAfDn-/view
Irrespective of all these hiccups, the social media prompted a lot of political actors to react on this subject. https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1293178040126599170 Here is @ShashiTharoor acknowledging the role played by his constituents.
Celebrities and students also played a crucial role in endorsing the campaigns initiated by different civil society organisations. Fondly remember @parvatweets's activities (webinars, articles etc.) https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/terrible-piece-law-parvathy-writes-centre-demanding-eia-2020-withdrawal-130502
Probably the first time after the Save the Internet campaign( (spearheaded by folks at @internetfreedom @nikhilpahwa AIB etc.) a policy consultation has witnessed this level of participation. 10 Lakh then vs. 20 Lakh now. Hopefully someone will document this.
Some important submissions
1) Vindhya Bachao Aandholan https://vindhyabachao.org/embeds/Representation_DraftEIA2020_VENHF_27_April_2020.pdf
2) Coalition For Environmental Justice In India https://esgindia.org/new/environmental-decision-making/ceji-letter-dated-11-aug-demand-the-withdrawal-of-unconstitutional-and-environmentally-detrimental-draft-eia-notification-2020leetr/
1) Vindhya Bachao Aandholan https://vindhyabachao.org/embeds/Representation_DraftEIA2020_VENHF_27_April_2020.pdf
2) Coalition For Environmental Justice In India https://esgindia.org/new/environmental-decision-making/ceji-letter-dated-11-aug-demand-the-withdrawal-of-unconstitutional-and-environmentally-detrimental-draft-eia-notification-2020leetr/
3) @ForestRightsAct Forest Right Group https://twitter.com/ForestRightsAct/status/1293087929191919623
4) @tandem_research Tandem Research https://tandemresearch.org/assets/EIA-TR-Sirohi-Shantha.pdf
5) Initiative for Climate Action - https://actionclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Comments-on-draft-EIA-2020-Initiative-for-Climate-Action-1.pdf @AbhayrajNaik
6) 100+ activists https://sanctuarynaturefoundation.org/article/eia-2020-legitimises-environmental-damage @prernabindra
4) @tandem_research Tandem Research https://tandemresearch.org/assets/EIA-TR-Sirohi-Shantha.pdf
5) Initiative for Climate Action - https://actionclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Comments-on-draft-EIA-2020-Initiative-for-Climate-Action-1.pdf @AbhayrajNaik
6) 100+ activists https://sanctuarynaturefoundation.org/article/eia-2020-legitimises-environmental-damage @prernabindra
7) Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad KSSP https://luca.co.in/comments-and-observations-on-draft-eia-notification-2020-eng/
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2) Decriminalization of offences - Cable TV Act : 15th
3) Draft Defence Production and Export Policy 2020- 17th
4) Review of Customs Laws -21st
5) Draft Wage Code Rules, 2020 - 22nd http://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com
