CB BureauNoticing that facts and data in environment impact reports
(EIR) are being copied from the ones that have been already cleared, the union
environment ministry has sternly warned environment consultants against plagiarism.
If the ministry finds that submitted EIA
reports are copied from others, the clearance for the concerned projects will
be withdrawn and they will have to start the application process
afresh.
In case the clearance has already been granted on
the basis of a ‘copied’ report, the ministry will withdraw the clearance and ask
the company to apply again with the right report.
The ministry has also asked project proponents to submit an
undertaking stating that they own the entire content of the report including
the researched data.
The ministry’s order read: ‘If at any stage, it is observed
or brought to the notice of the ministry that the contents of the EIA report
pertaining to a project have been copied from other reports, such projects
shall be summarily rejected and the proponent will have to initiate the process
afresh including conduct of public hearing.’
The order further warned consultants of strict action
against them if they continued to indulge in the act of plagiarism. The ministry
said that it would consider de-listing such consultants and cancel their
accreditation.
As it is time-consuming for the ministry and the expert
appraisal committees (EACs) to compare the contents of one report with the other
to check for copied data, it randomly checks the contents of all reports and
leaves.
However, the onus of providing correct information lies on the project
proponents, and they must own the facts and the numbers that they provide to
the government.
As per the procedure, EIA report about a project and details
of public hearing (conducted in the concerned area) are submitted to the EAC,
which then grants environmental clearance.