14-17th March 2025: Departmental Consultations & Field Visits in Bodoland to streamline Existing Situation Analysis and LSA Model created by WRI India team
Thriving Eco City-regions Team Meets Relevant Department Officials from BTR to Validate Key Data Insights for the Existing Situation Analysis (ESA) Report
As part of its ongoing collaboration with the Bodoland Territorial Council to co-create a Regional Spatial Strategy, WRI India is currently finalizing the Existing Situation Analysis (ESA) report for the Bodoland Territorial Region. The ESA serves as a comprehensive baseline assessment, examining key sectoral challenges and opportunities across governance, regional connectivity, economic development, climate vulnerabilities, housing, and social indicators.
To ensure the contextual relevance of the findings and incorporate insights from local stakeholders and officials, the WRI India team conducted a series of department-wise consultations. These included detailed discussions with the Tourism, Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, Sericulture, Transformation & Development, Education, Transport, Urban Development, Land & Revenue, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, and Co-operation Departments. The objective was to validate key data and insights and incorporate ground-level perspectives into the ESA.
During the consultation, BTR officials expressed great enthusiasm for the Land Suitability Analysis (LSA), noting its potential to guide planning across multiple parameters including environment, connectivity, housing, infrastructure, and transportation. They were able to generate various LSA outputs, which helped initiate scenario-based discussions. The tool was found to be highly engaging, with the flexibility to adjust and prioritize parameters depending on context, making it adaptable to the region’s specific needs. This level of GIS-based analysis has never been undertaken in the region before, marking a significant step forward in evidence-based planning. Building on this, the team is now co-creating a shared vision for the region that will be reflected in future iterations of the LSA. The LSA provided clear recommendations by identifying high and low suitability zones for urban development.
To validate these recommendations, a field visit was conducted to assess whether they aligned with on-ground conditions. Recognizing the limitations of satellite data, the team complemented the analysis by speaking with local residents, observing the landscape, and studying agricultural patterns. This also led to the identification of key natural and cultural assets with eco-tourism potential—such as a 12th-century temple, a Rajbari site from the 1940s, and pristine wetlands. These inputs are being incorporated into the spatial strategies with specific references to locations and local practices. The consultation spanned across Kokrajhar, Baksa, and Chirang, offering valuable insights to inform planning across the BTR region.
18th March 2025: WRI India Hosts Forum Event to Advance Climate-Resilient Regional Planning in Bodoland Territorial Region
The Thriving Eco City-Regions Forum recently hosted a collaborative discussion at the Panchayat and Rural Development (PnRD) Department in Kokrajhar, bringing together officials from various line departments, domain experts, and research scholars. The session centered on land suitability analyses and reflections on the current development landscape in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). With an urbanization rate of just 5%, BTR holds a unique opportunity to leverage its natural resources for inclusive and climate-resilient regional growth. In partnership with the Bodoland Territorial Council, the forum focused on co-creating a Regional Spatial Strategy aligned with the region’s distinct geographic and socio-economic context. Key insights from the discussion highlighted the need to strengthen data systems and institutional frameworks for informed decision-making, empower women through sericulture and agriculture-based livelihoods alongside flexible education and life skills programs, and integrate indigenous knowledge with best practices to drive place-based service delivery, infrastructure, and economic development.
March 21st 2025: Stakeholder Meeting on Strengthening Stormwater Drainage and Waste Management Policy in Lucknow
On March 21, 2025, a meeting was held at Bapu Bhawan, Lucknow, led by IAS Special Secretary Satya Prakash. Attendees included the GT team (led by Vidya Sagar), Urban Planners Laraib Ahmad and Mohit, GIS Expert Shweta, CNDS representative Mr. Naushad, and DULB officials Kawaljeet and Sanjay Sir (Retd. Under Secretary). The focus was on improving stormwater drainage and solid waste screening.
Key discussions included launching public awareness campaigns, verifying points where stormwater drains intersect with sewer lines, and standardizing plumbing inspections—proposing one government-supported plumber per 5,000 residents. The need for GIS-based drainage mapping, assessment of AMRUT sewer lines, and geo-tagging infrastructure like pumping stations and road directories was stressed.
The group also recommended drafting drainage regulations under the Nagar Nigam Act, drawing from models in Mumbai, Bangalore, Gujarat, and Delhi. WRI India’s support was acknowledged, with plans to refine the draft policy by incorporating pluvial flood risk assessments and continuing collaborative efforts for a comprehensive drainage management framework.
24th March 2024: Stakeholder Workshop on Peri-Urban Management in Tamil Nadu
Raj Bhagat Palanichamy from WRI India Presenting Findings from a Study on Mapping Peri-Rrban Areas in Tamil Nadu for the State Planning Commission
A stakeholder consultation workshop was held on March 24th in collaboration with the State Planning Commission, Tamil Nadu, bringing together representatives from the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), Directorate of Municipal Administration, Town Panchayats, academia, and NGOs. The workshop provided a platform to present the preliminary findings of the project and discuss the emerging challenges of managing peri-urban growth in the state. Key discussions focused on governance gaps, infrastructure disparities, and the need for context-specific planning frameworks for peri-urban areas. Stakeholders shared valuable feedback on the proposed assessment framework, which will be used to refine field engagement tools and inform the development of a sustainable urban management framework.
The team also had a productive catch-up with Sameer Shisodia, CEO of Rainmatter Foundation, to discuss ongoing collaborations and explore future alignment. The conversation highlighted shared priorities around community-led sustainability, ecosystem restoration, and nature-based solutions.
27th March 2024: Neha Lal Writes on 6 Books on India’s Waste Challenge
Six Books to Understand the Challenge of Waste in India
Neha Lal writes on the urgent and often overlooked issue of waste in India’s urban centers, where rising consumption has led to alarming levels of pollution, landfill fires, and environmental degradation. She highlights how most of us remain disconnected from the journey of our waste—what we throw away and where it ends up. Through six thought-provoking books, Neha unpacks the deep ecological, social, and ethical dimensions of our waste crisis. From food and plastic waste to the lived experiences of waste workers, she calls for greater awareness, behavioral change, and systemic reform to build a more sustainable and just future.
Read blog here: Wading Through Waste: 6 Books on India’s Waste Challenge | WRI INDIA