India Advances Clean Himalayan Hill Cities Initiative with Preparatory Workshop in New Delhi

Following the workshop, participating States and Union Territories will undertake detailed assessments to identify priority challenges and develop comprehensive plans for submission to MoHUA.

 

A major preparatory workshop on the Clean Himalayan Hill Cities Initiative was held on 16 December 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, marking a significant step in India’s efforts to build cleaner, more resilient, and climate-responsive urban hill ecosystems. Organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the workshop brought together a comprehensive spectrum of stakeholders—from government officials and technical experts to civil society leaders, academia, and global development partners—to co-develop a strategic roadmap for achieving visible and sustainable cleanliness in Himalayan hill cities.

The initiative, first announced during the National Urban Conclave 2025 on 8–9 November, represents MoHUA’s renewed push to strengthen the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U) mandate in some of India’s most ecologically fragile yet culturally significant urban regions.

A Collective Push Towards Cleaner Hill Cities

Presided over by Shri S. Katikithala, Secretary, MoHUA, the workshop convened representatives from 13 Himalayan and North-Eastern hill cities, along with prominent hill and foothill cities of West Bengal—Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik, and Siliguri. The sessions highlighted the indispensable need for hill-specific, context-sensitive urban solutions that address the unique geographical and climatic constraints of mountain environments.

India’s hill cities across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and West Bengal face persistent challenges including steep terrain, dispersed settlements, limited land availability, extreme weather conditions, and fragile ecosystems. While SBM-U has catalysed several innovative and community-led waste management models in these regions, systemic constraints continue to impede long-term sustainability.

The workshop, therefore, sought to deepen collaboration and refine strategies that strengthen the overall resilience of hill cities through improved waste management, sanitation systems, and climate-adaptive planning.

A Whole-of-Society Approach: Broad Participation and Cross-Sector Support

The workshop reflected a whole-of-society approach essential for transforming hill cities. Participants included:

• Academic and research institutions: IIT Roorkee, GB Pant University, CEDAR

• Civil society organisations: Sulabh International, Waste Warriors, Healing Himalayas

• Private and social sector partners: Swahaa Resource Management, Royal Enfield Social Mission

• Global development agencies: GIZ, World Bank, ADB, UNIDO, AFD, KfW, European Union, Embassy of Switzerland, Gates Foundation

These diverse stakeholders shared insights, innovations, and proven field experiences that can be scaled across the Himalayan region. Community leaders, in particular, highlighted their journeys in promoting plastic-free zones, managing pilgrimage-related waste, and sustaining long-term clean-up initiatives in ecologically sensitive areas.

Key Thematic Sessions: Insights and Innovations

A series of brainstorming and knowledge-driven sessions structured the workshop’s discussions. Major themes included:

Proven, Practical, Possible: What Works for Himalayan Cities

This session showcased replicable models in community-led waste management, decentralised sanitation solutions, and resource recovery. Examples highlighted how local leadership and people’s participation have been critical in overcoming geographic challenges.

Drivers of Change: Community Champions in Action

Grassroots leaders shared compelling stories of social mobilisation—from mountain clean-up campaigns to efforts ensuring religious and tourist sites remain plastic-free. Their experiences underscored the importance of sustained public engagement and behaviour change.

Technology for Hill Cities

Experts discussed technology-enabled solutions, such as integrated waste management systems, onsite sanitation for cold regions, decentralised used-water systems, and mechanisms to improve the offtake of treated sewage sludge. Emphasis was placed on the need for rugged, low-maintenance solutions suited to the topographical constraints of hill cities.

Synergizing Solutions: Collaboration for Clean Hill Cities

The importance of multi-sector partnerships was highlighted, noting that innovation, financing, policy support, and community action must converge to create sustainable impact.

Global Good Practices Adaptable to the Himalayan Context

International experiences in waste management and sanitation were presented, demonstrating global best practices that can be contextualised for India’s hill regions.

Roadmap Co-Creation with States and Cities

An interactive session enabled cities and States to identify priority focus areas, geographic challenges, and key intervention sites. These discussions will guide the preparation of city-specific roadmaps.

Launch of Key Knowledge Products

Three knowledge products were launched to strengthen evidence-based planning:

• “Mountains of Change: Transforming Waste Management in Hilly Areas” – A compendium of best practices from hill cities

• “Advisory on Onsite Sanitation for Colder Regions” – Guidelines tailored for low-temperature environments

• “Advisory on Promoting Offtake of Treated Sewage Sludge” – Practical recommendations for resource reuse

These documents will support governments and partners in designing climate-responsive and economically viable sanitation and waste management systems.

The Way Forward: Clean Himalayan Hill Cities by 2026

Following the workshop, participating States and Union Territories will undertake detailed assessments to identify priority challenges and develop comprehensive plans for submission to MoHUA. Proposed interventions are expected to be rolled out in early 2026, with the goal of achieving visible improvements in cleanliness and environmental health across Himalayan cities.

The Clean Himalayan Hill Cities Initiative represents a significant shift toward strategic, multi-stakeholder, and science-backed urban development in India’s hill regions. By aligning policy leadership with community participation and technical innovation, the initiative lays the foundation for cleaner, resilient, and future-ready hill cities.