ID: 1698
Presenting Author: Navaraj Pokharel
Session: 520 - Connecting infrastructure and IA – Assessing impacts in contested planning
Status: pending
The study evaluates Nepal’s EIA practices in large transport projects, highlighting weak enforcement and capacity gaps while recommending stronger governance, stakeholder participation, and sustainab
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) serves as a crucial tool for promoting environmentally sustainable development in large-scale transportation infrastructure projects in Nepal. This study examines the current EIA practices and their effectiveness in major road, bridge, and highway projects across the country. Despite being legally mandated under the Environment Protection Act (2019) and Environment Protection Rules (2020), EIA implementation often remains procedural rather than strategic. The assessments are frequently limited to documentation for project approval, with inadequate integration into the planning and decision-making stages. Key environmental issues observed include deforestation, soil erosion, habitat fragmentation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity due to poorly managed construction practices. Social impacts such as displacement and livelihood disruption also remain inadequately addressed. Institutional weaknesses, lack of inter-agency coordination, limited technical expertise, and insufficient post-EIA monitoring have reduced the overall effectiveness of the process. However, recent policy reforms and donor-supported initiatives are gradually improving EIA quality by introducing Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and cumulative impact analysis. Strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing transparency, and ensuring meaningful stakeholder participation are essential to bridge existing gaps. The study concludes that Nepal’s transport development can only achieve long-term sustainability if EIA evolves from a compliance-based exercise into
Navaraj Pokharel is an IA professional and secretory of NAIA from, Parbat, Nepal, contributing to climate resilience, community development, and sustainable natural resource management through resea