Dialogue for enhanced service delivery in water, used water and waste management for hill cities

Agenda

About the regional conclave

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayas, the Parvat Manthan regional conclave serves as a vital platform for addressing the urgent challenges faced by hill cities. This conclave focuses on critical themes including water and climate, sustainable municipal finance, integrated water resource management, equitable sanitation, decentralised waste management, and climate- sensitive waste strategies. These themes reflect the pressing realities of water, waste and climate change all of which significantly impact the delicate ecosystems of the Indian Himalayan Region.

The conclave will delve into key issues such as the growing concerns around water scarcity and climate resilience, exploring how integrated water resource management can be tailored to the unique needs of hilly regions. Discussions on strengthening municipal finance will reflect the challenges of fund utilisation by these states and thus aiming to enhance sustainable service delivery, ensuring that local governments can effectively address the diverse needs of their communities.

The sessions will focus on enabling equitable sanitation services and implementing decentralised liquid waste management technologies, which are critical for promoting health and well-being in these often-remote and ecologically sensitive areas. The conference will also present solid and legacy waste management from a climate perspective, offering innovative solutions that respect the fragile Indian Himalayan Region environment.

Additionally, the conclave will introduce a technology- driven element by bringing together private sector participants. These organisations will have the opportunity to present their innovative technological solutions in the realms of water and waste management, emphasising climate-resilient designs. Stall spaces will be available for these participants, facilitating direct interaction and collaboration with attendees.

The goal of the conclave is to strengthen networks, share   knowledge, and   empower   communities to safeguard the socio-ecological resilience   of the Himalayas. The conclave will also provide an opportunity for like-minded institutions to promote their initiatives on various subjects and act as a launching pad for the release of knowledge products developed by the various institutions. By elevating these critical conversations, the Parvat Manthan Forum aims to illuminate pathways toward an inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient future for Himalayan communities and beyond, ensuring the well-being of both present and future generations.

Objectives

Facilitate Knowledge Exchange: Establish a platform for experts and stakeholders to share insights on water management, waste reduction, and climate resilience in hill cities.

Advocate for Sustainable Policies: Collaborate with stakeholders to continue the dialogue on targeted policies addressing water scarcity, sanitation, and waste management for local government in the hill cities.

Showcase Technological Innovations: Connect private sector participants with local decision- makers to present climate-resilient solutions in water and waste management, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Ideation for New Research and Capacity Building Streams: Participating organisations will identify key areas for research and capacity building, focusing on sustainable water and waste management.

Background

With the launch of Parvat Manthan: Manifestation of clean and sustainable hill states by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), the forum continues to work extensively to bring together the states of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) and other mountain countries to act and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs especially 6, 11 and 13). The forum aims to build a collaborative and responsive platform that provides handholding support and knowledge exchange among the hill towns and cities through active engagement with each other and the provincial and central governments to make the mountain settlements inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient.

NIUA in the past two years has organized a series of consultation meetings with regional think tanks, government   officials, elected representatives, and financial institutions to delve into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by hill cities in the Indian Himalayan Region, particularly in the areas of water and sanitation. Key takeaways from these discussions included:

• A shared recognition of the absence of an urban forum tailored to the needs of hilly regions.
• The formation of a collaborative network among organizations actively working in the Himalayan context.
• An emphasis on identifying “lighthouse cities” that can serve as models of best practices.
• The need to generate evidence and amplify successful approaches for adaptation across other hill cities.

The diverse and challenging terrain of the mountains highlights the necessity for a unified urban-rural vision for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Past initiatives highlighted scattered settlements, inadequate infrastructure planning, limited accountability, and a lack of community awareness, focusing on asset creation over sustainable use. There is a pressing need for effective monitoring systems and adequate financial resource allocation.

To build on these insights and promote sustainable development in the mountain regions, the Parvat Manthan forum was established. This platform leverages previous learnings to foster a regional dialogue on creating clean and sustainable mountain settlements. The upcoming Parvat Manthan Conclave will be a pivotal event, aiming to drive collaborative action and policy development for the region’s unique WASH challenges and opportunities.

Target audience

• Government officials and policy makers
• Urban planners and engineers
• Researchers and academicians
• Think tanks, NGOs and community organisations

Gallery-walk

• Poster presentation – Best Practices on water and waste from the Himalayas.
• Technology exhibition- Private players from the sector will be allowed to display their products/ technologies/innovations.