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II. NATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
[ II | II-A | II-B | II-C | II-D | II-E | II-F | II-G | II-H ]
B. Environmental impact assessment
Previously, the Central Planning Department and the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources were jointly responsible for environmental management. While the Central Planning Department assessed the potential environmental risk of a development proposal, the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources handled higher-risk project appraisals requiring EIAs.
In February 1985, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources, the government approved the application of EIAs in reviewing all new physical development projects, with all environmental responsibility vested in the Ministry. The Central Planning Department was only given the role of coordinator.
The present policy requires the Central Planning Department to pass each development project proposal to the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources for an EIA where appropriate. The Ministry is expected to review each proposal and then issues an environmental impact report accepting or rejecting the proposal, or for the inclusion of particular recommendations before giving final approval.
In undertaking an EIA, the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources and the line ministry are jointly responsible for carrying out the assessment and evaluation of the project. In practice, very few development proposals have been subjected to an EIA; one major reason is the lack of comprehensive environmental legislation.
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