History of EIA in Nepal

   The  use of an Environment Impact Assessment began in 1970 in the USA and spread rapidly throughout the world. EIA was introduced into a development related decision making because of increasing public concern for the environment .

       EIA is a formal study process used to predict the environmental consequence of a proposed major development project. Such project may include the establishment of a factory, building of hydroelectric dam; EIA has been defined in slightly different ways authors and institutions, both nationally and internationally.

         EIA means a report on detailed study and evaluation to be prepared to ascertain as to whether in implementing a proposal, the proposal does have significant adverse impacts could be avoided or mitigated by any means as not. One of the most complete and clear definition given by Munn(1979) refers to the need, "To identify and the environment and or man's health and well being of legislative proposals, policies, project and communicate information about the impact.

       The Nepalese Government has implemented national and sectional EIA guidance. Nepal is relatively new to the context of EIA. In the past, EIA were concluded  for individual development proposals, usually at the initiative of bilateral and multilateral donors according to their respective policies. The National Conservation Strategy (NCS) 1987 recognized the urgent need establishment of a national system entails the requirements of an EIA before the relevant government departments approve major projects. The eight plan (1992-1997) has also emphasized the need for such a system. Realizing the immediate need for a national EIA system the PC/IUCN/NSC, the implementation project began developing EIA Guidelines through a participatory approach by utilizing an intersectional, environmental core  group(EG). The government approved and guidelines of the industrial and forestry sectors in 1995(Khadka, 1996).

Usefulness of EIA

                   EIA is concerned as a project management tool for collecting and analyzing informational on the environmental effects of projects to aid implementation of decisions. As such it used to:

 -        identify potential environmental impacts;

-        examine the significance of environmental implications;

-        asses whether impacts can be mitigated;

-         recommended preventive and corrective mitigating measures;

-         inform decision makers and concerned parties of environmental; and

-         advise whether development should go ahead.