Workshop: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

Posted by: Editor in Latest News, Society 8th August 2019 0 171 Views

Mumbai Metropolitan Region – Environment Improvement Society (MMR-EIS) launches Capacity Building Programme in Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, in collaboration with the K.J. Somaiya College of Science & Commerce for the environmentally conscious citizens

Mumbai: 8^th August, 2019- After the successful response received from the previous Capacity Development Programmes, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Environment Improvement Society in collaboration with K.J. Somaiya College of Science & Commerce announced their Capacity Development Programme in Environment Management (CDEM) with a series of modules for the year 2019.

As part of the CDEM programme, a 5-day workshop on Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has been organized from the 26-30 August, 2019. 

Aspects covered by ESIA module would include environmental and social risks faced by development projects, the national regulatory framework for environmental impact assessment, lenders’ frameworks for environmental and social sustainability, basic ESIA processed and challenges.

The Capacity building training program will provide municipal authorities, civil society groups, private sector and local communities the means to improve understanding of the natural resource base; help examine sustainability principles as they apply to Mumbai’s environment from the economic, environmental and social-equity perspectives. It will empower individuals, organisations and society as a whole, and can create a more transparent governance of environmental and natural resources.

Various modules are designed and structured with different subjects to be focused on. Environment Policy & Planning, Green Built Environment, Environmental Social Impact Assessment, Sustainable Cities and Blue-Green Infrastructure for Climate Resilience are the part of this programme which is studied through case studies and hands-on analysis.

Mr Abhijit Ekbote, Secretary, MMR-EIS “The program launched in 2016, has received good response from individuals and organisations. Environment sustainability needs a combination of passion for the environment as well as a good understanding of the science, economics, policies and planning needed to actually make it happen. The response has increased our committment to contribute towards increasing knowledge of all stakeholders involved in environment protection. Our tie up with K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce with its capabilities and capacities in educating about environment sciences has given a fillip to our capacity building program”

Dr Pradnya Prabhu, Principal, K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce said, “These modules are thoughtfully designed to get hands on experience from experts from across the country enabling a strong network of sustainability thought leaders coming from diverse fields. We are proud to partner with MMR- EIS for developing and conducting a program for local government officials and community members seeking to address today’s complex environmental challenges at the local level. We believe that it is time for academicians to participate in the development of our city – and what better way than this”.

About The Mumbai Metropolitan Region – Environment Improvement Society

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region – Environment Improvement Society (MMR-EIS) was established in 1996 by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to promote improvement of the environment in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) through studies, surveys, demonstrations, investigations, research and related activities.

About K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce

K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce (KJSCS) has an exclusive Department of Environmental Science that runs the first autonomous inter-disciplinary postgraduate program in Environmental Science in Mumbai that emphases on the experiential learning to encourage the sustainable management of resources, the protection and restoration of the natural environment through education, research, outreach and network on environment.

KJSCS provides professional skills to the students in the key areas of Environmental Science such as Environmental Management, Biodiversity Assessment and Conservation, Pollution Control and Waste Management, Environmental Biotechnology, Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Law, Policy and Planning, and Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Climate Change and different mechanisms for combating of climate change. Eminent scientists, Researchers, and environmentalists are invited from various research organizations, NGOs and universities to interact with the students. This ensures wide access to practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of the scientific processes, procedures and policies involved in the day-to-day management of the environment.