10th - 11th June: Meeting Government partners to support preparation of Request for Proposal (RfP) for Regional Strategic Plan for Jammu Metropolitan Region (SMR) – 2047
WRI India team members Rejeet Mathew and Subzar Bashir meeting with the Chief Town Planner, Kashmir Bilkies Jeelani (left) and Town Planner SMRDA, Gulzar Ahmed Dar (right) at their respective offices in Srinagar, J&K.
To support ongoing efforts for regional planning in Jammu and Kashmir, WRI India team members met Commissioner Secretary to the Government Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Smt. Mandeep Kaur (IAS at Civil Secretariat Srinagar. In addition to being a knowledge partner to Town Planning Office, Kashmir and Srinagar Metropolitan Region Development Authority (SMRDA), WRI India, also extended its support to Jammu Metropolitan Region Development Authority (JMRDA). Under this partnership, we will provide technical support to further the Regional Strategic Plan making for both Srinagar and Jammu Metropolitan Regions of J&K.
This high-level meeting was followed by discussions with the Chief Town Planner of the Town Planning Organisation Kashmir and the Town Planner of the Srinagar Metropolitan Region Development Authority (SMRDA) to finalize the same.
11th June: Submission of the Inception report for co-creation of Regional Spatial Strategy of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) to Chief Executive Member, BTR, Shri Pramod Boro
WRI India‘s Ecocity coordinator for Bodoland, Michael Islary presenting a copy of the Inception report to Sh. Pramod Boro, Chief Executive Member of Bodoland Territorial Region
WRI India team submitted copies of the Inception Report for Regional Spatial Strategy exercise for Bodoland Territorial Region to the Hon. Chief Executive Member (HCEM), Shri Pramod Boro; the Principal Secretary (PS), Shri Akash Deep, IAS, BTC; and Shri Jatin Bora, ACS, Secretary of the Transformation and Development Department, BTC for their feedback and review. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the planned initiatives aimed at formulating the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the city-region of the Bodoland Territorial Region. The members of the Bodoland Territorial Council will provide their feedback to our team and have also requested a presentation and discussion on the matter. An Inception workshop has been planned on 25th-26th July in Kokrajhar with the BTC members to initiate the next stage of regional strategy co-creation.
14th June: Submission of the Inception report for the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission on building frameworks for sustainable peri-urban areas management
(Left)Inception Report cover page; (Right)Methodology of identification of settlement typologies
Research insights and suggestions were submitted to the Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP) to strengthen Greening and Horticulture Policy. The suggested framework sets measurable greening targets at state and city levels, emphasizing sustainable practices to protect natural areas and promote scientific, data-driven greening for climate resilience. It integrates urban green spaces into the built environment through strategic planning and maintenance, engaging the community in greening activities to foster participation and ownership. The policy also develops a robust model for maintaining open spaces and aims to promote Uttar Pradesh as a tourism capital. This initiative aims to create a sustainable, resilient green environment, enhancing environmental protection, community well-being, and economic growth.
18th June: Reviews submitted to strengthen Draft of Greening and Horticulture Policy for State of Uttar Pradesh
(Left) Integrated approach for greening; (Right) Urban greening typologies illustrated in Mumbai Greening Manual
19th & 26th June: Meetings with Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP)
WRI India team deployed dedicated staff members with specialisation in GIS, flood modelling, stormwater management in UP to support ongoing policy and scheme preparation. WRI India team members held regular weekly meetings with Special Secretary Shri Satya Prakash Patel (IAS) and the Grand Thornton team head Mr. Vidya Sagar to discuss the Urban Stormwater Management Policy draft and scheme preparation. The focus was on ensuring alignment with national initiatives, improving policy effectiveness and clarity, and incorporating suggestions to enhance water security and contribute to economic and functional goals.
Following this, on June 26, 2024, WRI India met with K.V. Raju, Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; the Chief Engineer of Jal Nigam; and representatives from Deloitte, Grand Thornton (GT), KPMG (SBM), and the Chief Minister Nagar Srajan Yojna (CMNSY). The meeting aimed to discuss the status and requirements for the Request for Proposal (RfP), Expression of Interest (EoI), and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Storm Water Drainage Policy in Uttar Pradesh. Discussions also covered the boundaries of the master plan for the UPSCR region, including the calculation of population and area (27,000 sq. km); demand assessment for future infrastructure development; and the evaluation of housing, physical, and social infrastructure needs.
30th June: Completion of the 11-month Jalandhar Eco-City Region Fellowship
End of June 2024 marked the culmination of the Jalandhar Eco City-Region Fellowship, an 11-month initiative jointly run by WRI India and Jalandhar Smart City Limited. The program aimed to engage young professionals in sustainable urban development projects, providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to drive positive change in Jalandhar. This month was particularly significant as it involved two major activities that brought the fellowship to a successful close. The activities in June not only reflected the fellows’ hard work and dedication but also provided valuable insights and feedback to improve future iterations of the fellowship.
Snapshots of Jalandhar ECR fellows presenting their work, experiences and takeaways from the fellowship
(1) End of term review panels: All fellows participated in end of term review panels, a key event designed to showcase their work, reflect on learnings and receive feedback. Each fellow prepared and delivered a comprehensive presentation, which included drawings, project reports, and other visual materials. These presentations were delivered to a panel of WRI India experts, who provided detailed guidance and addressed possibilities of developing outputs or future research. This session was a crucial learning experience, as it allowed the fellows to articulate their projects clearly and concisely, demonstrating their understanding and the impact of their work. The experts offered constructive criticism and suggestions to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the fellows’ projects. This feedback was instrumental in refining the fellows’ approaches and methodologies, helping them reflect on complexity of urban processes and governance. All fellows received a certificate of appreciation from WRI India’s end.
(2) Exit Interviews: Throughout June 2024, exit interviews were conducted with all fellows as part of the fellowship’s closing procedures. These interviews served as a platform for fellows to reflect on their experiences, share their opinions, and provide constructive feedback on the fellowship model. Each fellow was given the opportunity to discuss what they had learned over the past 11 months, including technical skills, project management techniques, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team setting. They highlighted the wide array of projects they had been involved in, such as urban planning initiatives, sustainable development projects, and community engagement activities. The exit interviews revealed a wealth of information about the fellows’ journeys. Many reported significant personal and professional growth, citing specific examples of how the fellowship had impacted their careers and perspectives on urban sustainability. The fellows also offered areas for improvement. The one-to-one exit interviews are invaluable for the continuous improvement of the fellowship, ensuring that future initatives remain responsive to challenges faced in city-regions.