Development, nature must move together, says Sanbor
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 3: Meghalaya is taking proactive steps to ensure its unique hill regions are not left behind in India’s journey towards a developed nation by 2047. Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai underscored the state’s long-held belief in balancing development with nature, a core principle highlighted at a workshop here which was organised collaboratively by NITI Aayog and the state government.
The workshop focused on “Developing Sustainable, Climate-Resilient, and Economically Vibrant Hill Cities.”
Shullai, delivering the keynote address, acknowledged the blessings of natural wealth and cultural vibrancy in hill cities, alongside their inherent challenges of terrain, infrastructure, and climate vulnerability.
He hailed the initiative as a crucial step towards “sustainable and inclusive growth” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, envisioning a new development model that harmonises economic progress with environmental protection, fosters local entrepreneurship, promotes eco-tourism, and empowers youth.
Urban Affairs department Commissioner and Secretary, Vijay Kumar D, described the initiative as “timely and apt,” emphasising Chief Minister’s ambitious vision for Meghalaya to become a “developed state” and among the top 10 in the country by 2032. This 10-year goal, set in 2022, aims to achieve a ‘Viksit Meghalaya’ through improvements in GDP, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and ultimately, the ease of living for its citizens. Kumar highlighted the state government’s strategic focus on urban development as one of its top priorities, reflecting an evolving thought process on complex issues and a commitment to strengthening urban governance.
Anna Roy, Principal Economic Adviser & Programme Director at NITI Aayog, set the stage for deliberations, explaining that this specific initiative falls under NITI Aayog’s “State Support Mission” to create a clear action agenda. She stressed the need for a distinct, “bespoke approach” for hill regions, acknowledging that NITI Aayog’s existing framework for cities in the plains would not suffice due to the unique attributes of mountainous areas. The workshop’s primary goal is to forge a specialized framework that prioritizes long-term resilience, sustainability, and addresses urbanization on a regional scale. The outcomes will form a comprehensive study, developed in collaboration with hill states to ensure a grounded and implementable plan.
Planning Adviser at NEC, Som Kamei, identified urbanisation as a vital driver of growth, while also acknowledging the unique challenges it poses for hill cities in managing population increases. He assured that the NEC would integrate the workshop’s deliberations into Vision 2047, collaborating with stakeholders to find a holistic approach that balances sustainability and growth.
The workshop featured insightful presentations from a diverse group of experts. Jagan Shah, CEO of Infravision, showcased global best practices from various hill cities, identifying critical challenges in infrastructure, mobility, and sustainable land use. He applied these concepts to Meghalaya, highlighting key priorities such as strategic eco-tourism, disaster resilience, and robust building regulations. Dr. Uday Bhonde, Senior Program Specialist at NIUA, detailed initiatives like a ‘shallow aquifer management project’ and presented climate action plans and environmental indexes to facilitate the process. Snehit Prakash, Regional Director of Borda Asia, shed light on climate-resilient planning for services, including climate action plans for small cities, stakeholder mapping, regional exchange, and knowledge transfer. Prof. Arup Sarma of IIT Guwahati discussed carrying capacity assessment and introduced the Sustainable Accommodation Framework, drawing on successful case studies and emphasizing the management of Meghalaya’s peri-urban areas for sustained environmental balance. Prof. Mahua Mukherjee, HoD, Dept. of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee, framed resilience as a prerequisite for growth, advocating for last-mile community resilience and participatory solutions.
Concluding the expert talks, Tikender Singh Panwar, former Deputy Mayor of Shimla, focused on governance, policy, and financing frameworks. He emphasized the need for a different developmental margin for hill regions and proposed a terraced governance model that is grounded, layered, and ecological.
The day culminated in an interactive round-table discussion aimed at identifying priority research topics, selecting pilot cities (both brownfield and greenfield), and pinpointing potential knowledge partners to advance various developmental ideas.
