The Assam government has established the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) to strengthen the environmental clearance process in the state. The move follows a notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on October 6, and both bodies will serve a four‑year term from the publication of the central notification in the Official Gazette.
The SEIAA will make decisions on environmental clearance applications based on recommendations from the SEAC. It will exercise its powers and follow procedures prescribed under the relevant government notification. Shyamanta Bezbarua, a retired former Secretary of the Assam Public Works Department (Building and National Highway), has been appointed Chairman, while Dr Socindra Kumar Borthakur, a retired professor from Gauhati University’s Department of Botany, will serve as a member.
The SEAC will be headed by Jatindra Sarma, IFS (Retd.), former Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. Its members include Prof. Parthankar Choudhury of Assam University, Silchar; Dr Rahul Mahanta of Cotton University; environmentalist Dr Arup Barpujary; Dr Arup Kumar Sarma of IIT Guwahati; Dr Bhagwat Pran Duwarah of Gauhati University; and Dr Narayan Sharma of Cotton University. The Member Secretary of the Assam Pollution Control Board will also serve as Member Secretary of the SEAC. The expert panel will operate on the principle of collective responsibility, seeking consensus, with the majority view prevailing if consensus cannot be reached.
Both bodies are located on the third floor of the Assam Pollution Control Board building at Bamunimaidam in Guwahati. The Pollution Control Board will act as the secretariat, providing financial, logistical and manpower support, while the state government will supply accommodation, transportation and other necessary facilities. Remuneration and allowances for chairmen and members will be governed by existing Assam government rules. IANS
