Evaluation of environmental impact assessment compliance in public construction projects and its implications for sustainable development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70742/ijpap.v1i1.451Keywords:
Environmental Impact Assessment, Public construction projects, Compliance and enforcement, Sustainable development, Monitoring technologiesAbstract
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has become a central instrument for integrating environmental, social, and economic considerations into public construction projects. This article evaluates EIA compliance in public infrastructure development and examines its implications for sustainable development. Drawing on international and local literature, the review synthesizes evidence on EIA concepts and principles, legal and institutional frameworks, methods for assessing compliance, and the outcomes of effective or weak implementation. The findings show that although many countries have established mandatory EIA regulations for major public works, practical compliance remains inadequate. Key barriers include institutional weaknesses, limited technical capacity, corruption and political interference, poor-quality documentation, and low levels of public participation. These constraints result in incomplete implementation of mitigation measures, inadequate monitoring and follow-up, and a persistent gap between EIA prescriptions and on-site practice. Consequently, non-compliance contributes to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, heightened public health risks, and slower progress toward relevant Sustainable Development Goals. The article proposes a set of integrated strategies to improve EIA compliance: strengthening regulatory enforcement, enhancing institutional and professional capacity, leveraging geospatial and digital monitoring technologies, and deepening public participation and transparency. It concludes by identifying priority areas for future research, including quantitative assessment of compliance levels, sector-specific challenges, community-based monitoring models, and the application of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and IoT-enabled systems to EIA enforcement
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