Role of Quality Management System in Improving the Quality of EIA
The quality of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) very much depends on the efficiency of the management system of the EIA consultant organizations. As per statutory requirements, EIA Consultant Organisations must have an accreditation for carrying out the EIA study in India from the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET) which is a nodal organization under the Quality Council of India (QCI) as per Gazette Notification dated March 3, 2016. The Quality Management System (QMS) is an integral part of the accreditation process, hence the study provides an analysis of the effectiveness of QMS for Accredited EIA Consultant Organisations (ACOs) in reality. The relationship between QMS and EIA reports is analysed from NABET database for various accredited consultant organizations across the country. The study revealed that the quality management system has a significant impact on the EIA reports. The major factors affecting EIA quality are lack of implementation of a quality system, inadequate knowledge of the system and lack of data interpretation. A regular review of QMS by NABET helps maintain the quality at every step of EIA. It suggests that there is a scope for developing a strategic framework to reach excellence in EIA reports through developing a strategic management system for the betterment of society and environment.