About Environmental Management Unit (EMU)

The Environmental Management Unit (EMU) headed by the Environmental Specialist (an IFS officer in the rank of DFO deputed from Forest Department), who is assisted by two Environmental Consultants, has the overall responsibility to oversee all the project related environmental issues during entire course of its implementation. The EMU takes policy level decisions, adopts safeguard measures, streamlines different environmental provisions, and suggests suitable mitigation measures for all emerging environmental issues in the project. Inter-alia, it coordinates with all the line departments, assists them with technical inputs, liaises with the World Bank and implements different environmental training and awareness programmes towards capacity building of the line departments. It also defines and implements process and guidelines for environmental screening of different sub-project activities viz. Agriculture, Fishery, Roads etc prior to its implementation on ground in tune with the Bank safeguard policies.. Towards building the capacity of the executing agencies for implementing the provisions of the Environmental Management Framework (EMF), one Environmental cum Technical Officer (ETO) has been deputed for each five main implementing departments viz. Agriculture, Fishery, PWD, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary and Dairy. These officers with periodic supervision and feedback from EMU, advise and assist their respective Nodal Officers on issues pertaining to environmental implications and implementation of the Environmental Codes of Practice (ECP), EMF provisions in the project districts. However, the key responsibilities towards EMF implementation at the ground level vest with the District Environmental cum Technical Officers (DETO) who are in place for all departments in all project implementing districts. They have been trained in environmental aspects, provided with continuous guidance and support from the EMU and their respective ETOs.

ASSAM RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SERVICES (ARIAS) SOCIETY