01st and 06th February, 2025: Progress Update on Nurpur Pond Rejuvenation[NL1]
WRI India team and DPR Consultant Ashwin from from Vinyasa Designs detailed out proposed pond rejuvenation design to MCJ, JSCL, and Panchayat officials at the site in Jalandhar.
Bathymetric survey being conducted for Nurpur Pond.
Samples collected for testing 15 water quality parameters.
As part of the ongoing Nurpur Pond Rejuvenation project, topographic, bathymetric, and water quality surveys were conducted at the pond site, and the survey result reports were shared with the consultants. DPR Consultant Vinyasa Designs team and WRI India team visited the site to hold a multi stakeholder discussion on design proposal with key members, including the Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, senior engineers, and the Sarpanch. Following these discussions, a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) was submitted to JSCL on 28th of February 2025 which incorporated feedback from the ground on revenue sources, biodiversity components, BOQs and community facilities.
February 5th and 10th, 2025: Stakeholder Meeting Update on Perception Survey and UPSWD Policy in Uttar Pradesh
WRI India team submitted a detailed perception survey analysis report were submitted on February 5th, to the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, addressed to the Deputy Director and the State PMU IQVIA to inform the scheme implementation and future project proposal development. Following discussions with the stakeholders from Govt of Uttar Pradesh in January 2025, work is progressing toward development of the Uttar Pradesh Handbook for the Aspirational Cities Programme, adressing core sectors and services for small towns across the state
Additionally, on February 10th, we met with Vidyasagar from GT (State PMU), UDD GoUP, to discuss the draft policy review and approval process. We were informed that the policy is still under review. However, as per the UPSWD guidelines and scheme approval, cities under this program are advised to prepare a city-wise Integrated Stormwater Drainage and Management Plan. They are also required to develop a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the renovation and maintenance of existing stormwater drainage (SWD) infrastructure within their municipal corporations.
February 2025: Review and Finalization of Existing Situation Analysis for Bodoland Regional Spatial Strategy
Internal team workshop to discuss insights from Existing Situation Analysis & streamlining Land Suitability Analysis model
The team working on the Bodoland Territorial Region is currently finalizing the Existing Situation Analysis (ESA) and SWOT report. The ESA is a comprehensive assessment that examines baselines and sectoral challenges across key areas such as governance, regional connectivity, economy, climate vulnerabilities, housing, and social development. The ESA chapters will be presented and discussed with the respective departments in Bodoland, and a forum event will be organized to gather insights from experts. This effort is part of the broader process of co-creating the Bodoland Regional Spatial Strategy.
3rd February, 2025: Advancing Water Sensitivity Insights from the Water4Change Seminar
Neha Lal from the Eco City-regions team attends the Water4Change seminar
Water4Change (W4C) organized a seminar on Dissemination and Policy Impact on February 3, 2025 (Monday) at Casuarina Hall, India Habitat Centre (IHC), New Delhi. This seminar aimed to advance water sensitivity and foster coalition building among stakeholders at the international, national, and city levels. The primary objective was to share knowledge, discuss project findings, and collaboratively shape the future of water-sensitive cities.
The Water4Change (W4C) research programme addresses the complex challenges of urban water systems in fast-growing secondary cities in India, focusing on sustainability transitions necessary for both short- and long-term mitigation, adaptation, and resilience-building amid uncertainties. Through the co-creation of a Water Sensitive City Framework and Fit-for-Purpose Guidelines, W4C seeks to enable water-sensitive urban development by integrating site-specific knowledge and practices, innovative interventions, and policy guidelines. The project is co-fundedby the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Cooperation India – the Netherlands Programme.
As part of a panel discussion on “Sectoral Thinking and Experience on Water Security in the Urban Context,” Neha Lal from WRI India presented a case study on developing a water security approach for policy implementation in Uttar Pradesh, alongside colleagues from CEEW, NIUA, and SPA. Her presentation focused on:
- · Framing a water security approach for an effective policy outlook
- · Foregrounding an evidence-driven pathway for policy action
- · Providing insights to strengthen institutional capacity and develop hybrid solutions for water security.