What type of involvement is expected from local communities in the EIA process?

• A. Not involved at all; decisions are made by the agencies.
• B. Limited to annual reports to the community without feedback channels.
• C. Participation, input, and feedback during scoping and review, with mechanisms for grievance redress.
• D. Public disclosure is optional and only used if needed.

Answer: (C)

In this approach, local communities are seen as active partners in the EIA, not just sources of data. Their involvement is expected throughout the process, starting with scoping where their concerns help identify the issues and impacts that matter most. They should be able to provide input on the project and the baseline information, and their feedback is sought during the review of the environmental impact statement. Importantly, there must be accessible channels for grievances so communities can raise concerns and see them addressed through a formal redress mechanism. This participatory, transparent approach improves the relevance and acceptability of mitigation measures and aligns with the governance standards that require public involvement and accountability in EIA processes. Options that keep communities out, limit feedback to reports, or treat disclosure as optional would undermine these objectives.