Environmental impact assessment of transport infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka: Way forward

Abstract

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was established to manage impacts on environment due to development projects and to enhance environmental quality where possible. However, recent incidents concerning several projects have aroused the question, "Are we utilising EIA effectively?" Therefore this study was carried out to find the possible methods of improving the quality and effectiveness of EIA. Literature regarding EIA process in Sri Lanka as well as in international context was reviewed together with several past EIA reports related to civil engineering infrastructure projects to identify possible improvements. Identified problems can be categorised mainly in to two; problems in established EIA framework and methodologies adopted in impact assessment. Main problems identified with regard to EIA framework are lack of environmental, social protection policies and proper post monitoring plan. The problems with regard to assessment process are lack of incorporating cumulative effects and sustainability concepts in evaluation. In order to address these issues, legislature should be improved and they should focus on allocating proper weight to the EIA findings in the decision process. In impact assessment, the product of magnitude of the impact and the duration of impact should be taken into account rather than just focusing on the magnitude. Further analysing impacts should focus more on concepts of environmental resources and limitations rather than narrow impacts of the project. In addition to the project based EIA process, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) can be practised to overcome the weaknesses of the reactive nature of EIA and to direct development in the right direction.