Centre asks agencies to follow all env safeguards in road, highway projects within 100 km of IB, LoC
New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) Close on the heels of the Joshimath crisis, the Centre has issued a standard operating procedure asking agencies to mandatorily implement environmental safeguards in all roads and highway projects falling within 100 kilometres of the International Border or the Line of Control. The standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the Union Environment ministry on February 6 stresses on mandatory disaster management plans, risk assessment and eco-fragility studies and precautions during tunnelling. The guidelines come seven months after the ministry waived the requirement for environmental clearance for highway projects up to 100 kilometres of the International Border (IB) or the Line of Control (LoC).
“The guidelines are to be followed for all roads/highway projects falling within 100 km from the International Border/Line of Control for sustainable environmental safeguards.
“Further, the exemption of prior EC (environmental clearance) for all highway projects up to 100 km from the LoC or border does not exempt it from approvals, consent, permissions etc, required to be obtained under any other act, rule, regulation, bye-laws and notification etc,” read an office memorandum issued to chairpersons of all pollution control boards, expert appraisal committees and environment impact assessment authorities, among others.
KV Network
