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The Environment Assessment Division plays a key role in development control and ensuresthat environmental impacts of major development projects, as listed under the Fifth Schedule of the Environment Protection Act (EPA),are foreseen and addressed at the very inception stage through the EIA mechanism. The Division also ascertains that appropriate measures are taken to mitigate adverse environmental impacts, enhance the positive impacts and promote sustainable development. To that effect, the Environment Assessment Division processes applications for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)licencesand Preliminary Environmental Report (PER) approvals within the time frame stipulated in theEPA. A well-established mechanism is in place for the processing of EIA and PER applications. The EIA mechanism being multidisciplinary, several environmental issues have to be taken into consideration. The Division accordingly works in close collaboration with technical line ministries and institutions t

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