Question

Social impact assessment was in news recently with regard to land acquisition for developmental projects. Which of the following is/are true about SIA?

Codes:

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 2, 3 and 4 only
• C. 1,3 and 4 only
• D. All of these

Answer 1

The correct option is D

All of these

Social impact assessment (SIA) is an assessment of the social effects of infrastructure projects- for example, new roads, industrial facilities, mines, dams, ports, airports and other development interventions.

Benefits of SIA:

1. it engages public in the decision making and empowers all the stakeholders involved.
2. it brings out a comprehensive evaluation of the project, bringing out the impact on generally ignored section of society that is landless labours and other dependent classes. It also touches upon social effects such as migration, social fragmentation which are not perceived to be directly linked to the project.
3. SIA is an evidence based exercise. SIA is an instrument meant to assess the positive and negative impacts of the project and presents a cost benefit analysis.
4. scope for study of alternative : to assess whether the objectives of the proposed project could not be achieved in some other manner, especially by acquiring significantly less fertile, multi-cropped land, a crucial requirement of national food security.
5. it sets the objectives to be achieved, thus setting standards for accountability in the later stages.