An EIA ideally should be independent from which entity while being funded by them?

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a critical process used to evaluate the potential environmental effects of a proposed project or development before decisions are made. The independence of the EIA is crucial for ensuring an unbiased and objective assessment.

When a developer funds the EIA, it can create a conflict of interest. This is because the developer may have a vested interest in seeing the project approved and could influence the findings to be more favorable to their goals. Therefore, it is essential that the EIA remains independent of the developer to uphold its integrity and ensure that the environmental considerations are prioritized over financial or developmental ambitions.

Maintaining this independence allows for an impartial evaluation of the potential impacts on the environment and communities, ensuring that all stakeholders can trust the process and findings. This independence is particularly important in avoiding situations where the assessment may favor the developer's interests at the expense of environmental protection.