SHILLONG, NOV 3: Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai on has emphasized the need for “sustainable and inclusive growth,” balancing development with nature.
Addressing at a workshop on the Hill Regions Planning Initiative (HCRPI) to create a roadmap for sustainable, climate-resilient, and economically vibrant hill cities, Shullai said that hill cities are blessed with natural wealth and cultural vibrancy, but face unique challenges of terrain, infrastructure, and climate vulnerability.
He called the initiative a step in that direction for “sustainable and inclusive growth” under the visionary leadership of Honourable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi. He described the workshop as an opportunity to chart a path towards a new model of development that balances economic growth with environmental protection, promotes local entrepreneurship, eco-tourism, and empowers youth. He affirmed that “Meghalaya has long believed development and nature must move together, and as the nation works toward Viksit Bharat @ 2047, we must ensure that our hill regions are not left behind.”
Organized by the NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the state government, the workshop brought together senior government officials, policymakers, and domain experts to prioritize economic growth and environmental protection
Delivering the welcome remarks, Vijay Kumar D., Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Affairs Department, called the initiative, “timely and apt”. He detailed Hon’ble Chief Minister’s vision for Meghalaya to be “among the top 10 states in the country by 2032”. He explained that the 10-year goal, set in 2022, aims to create a Viksit Meghalaya by improving the GDP, the SDGs, and ultimately improving ease of living.
He stated, “the main point is that our state government has put urban as one among the top 10 things that the state wants to focus.” He noted that the State’s thought processes are evolving on complex issues as they continue to strengthen urban governance.
Anna Roy, Principal Economic Adviser & Programme Director, NITI Aayog, set the context for the day’s deliberation, explaining it is a specific initiative under NITI Aayog’s “State Support Mission” aimed at creating a clear action agenda. Ms. Roy detailed that NITI Aayog’s framework for cities in the plains, which recognized that hill regions require a distinct, “bespoke approach” due to their unique attributes.
Representing the Northeastern Council (NEC), Shri. Som Kamei, Planning Adviser at NEC, identified urbanization as a “very important driver of growth.” He highlighted the unique challenges of hill cities, which create problems in dealing with population growth. He affirmed that the NEC would ensure the deliberations are part of Vision 2047 and will collaborate with stakeholders to find a holistic approach that balances sustainability and growth.
During the first session, Jagan Shah, CEO, The Infravision, presented the best global practices from different hill cities and identified challenges in infrastructure, mobility, and sustainable land use. Applying these concepts to Meghalaya, he highlighted key priorities like strategic eco-tourism, disaster resilience, and building regulations.
Dr. Uday Bhonde, Sr. Program Specialist, NIUA, highlighted initiatives, including a ‘shallow aquifer management project’, presented a few climate action plans, and environmental indexes to facilitate the process.
Snehit Prakash, Regional Director, Borda Asia, shed light on climate resilient planning for services, including climate action plans for small cities, stakeholder mapping, regional exchange, and knowledge transfer.
Following the first session, Prof. Arup Sarma, IIT Guwahati, delivered his talk on carrying capacity assessment and introduced the Sustainable Accommodation Framework, focusing on successful case studies and emphasizing on the idea of managing Meghalaya’s peri-urban areas to maintain sustainability.
Prof. Mahua Mukherjee, HoD, Dept. of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee, framed resilience as a prerequisite for growth. She talked about the last mile community resilience, addressed pillars to help citizens visualise plans, and move towards sustainability, participatory solutions.
Mr. Tikender Singh Panwar, Former Deputy Mayor of Shimla, delivered the final talk on governance, policy, and financing frameworks. He discussed the requirement of a different developmental margin for hill regions and advocated for a terraced governance model which is grounded, layered, and ecological.
The workshop culminated into an interactive round-table discussion based on identification of priority research topics, pilot cities (brownfield and greenfield) and potential knowledge partners to facilitate different developmental ideas.
By Our Reporter
