After Joshimath crisis, environmental safeguards key in Centre’s SOPs
New Delhi A month after rapid sliding of land was reported in large parts of Joshimath town leading to the development of cracks in hundreds of homes and other structures, the Union environment ministry has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for all highway projects near border areas that emphasises environmental safeguards such as landslide and disaster management, precautions to be taken during tunnelling or drilling, and the protection of river catchments and hydrology