A critical review on environmental impact assessment of highway development in Himalayan region

Abstract

The environment is severely degrading globally by many factors, one of which is highway development. EIA is the starting point in the process of implementing sustainable development agenda and most effectual tool for integrating environmental concerns in development planning and implementation. Transportation plays a vital role in the development of a country’s economy; citizen’s quality of life, access to goods and services and also the pattern for distribution of economic activity. This paper reviews the direction of a research study conducted to understand the quality of air, soil and water as well as impacts on socio-economic conditions of local habitats from highway and road construction activities.