KATHMANDU: The environmental impact assessment (EIA), which is mandatory before starting a large developmental project, is often reduced to a formality. The EIA section in the Ministry of Environment is authorised to oversee all related processes across the country but it is almost defunct due to an acute shortage of human resource. Two staffers are handling all this for years. “It’s a serious problem but I don’t know why it has not got a priority,” said Bhai Raja Manandhar, focal person for EIA at the ministry. The EIA was mandatory for large-scale development works following the enforcement of the Environment Protection Act 1996 and the Environment Protection Regulations 1997. Ten years down the line, only 98 EIA reports have been approved. “I have received many complaints regarding a delay in the EIA approval. I agree that there is a shortage of manpower but we are planning to establish a separate department under the ministry to solve the problem,” said Meena Khanal, acting secretary, Ministry of Environment. According to the law, the ministry has to decide on the EIA report within 90 days of its submission, which the officials say is impossible due to the lack of technical human resource. “It is important that the ministry monitors the state of environment during and after the construction of the approved projects. But we have rarely done so since we are understaffed,” said Manandhar. Officials concerned said many development projects were going on without getting the EIA report approved, adding that the government had not been able to take action against them due to poor infrastructure and resources. While there are about 100 big housing companies, only two have had their environment impact assessed and approved. Many hospital buildings have been constructed by bypassing the process. “Disputes between local residents and developers can aggravate if errors crop up with regard to environment during the construction process,” lamented Manandhar. Often, the impact analyses have been questioned. “Most EIAs are pasted copies and a mere formality,” said a service seeker on condition of anonymity. “It is not quite so. But we are facing difficulties in overcoming these constraints,” maintained Manandhar.