Towards Resilient Infrastructure Planning in the Western Himalayas
The High-Level Workshop on "Towards Resilient Infrastructure Planning in the Western Himalayas" aims to foster an evidence-based dialogue on the growing intersection of climate change, geological fragility, infrastructure development, and disaster risk reduction in the Himalayan region. The Western Himalayas are increasingly experiencing extreme weather events, including cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides, posing significant risks to lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. Rapid urbanisation, road expansion, hydropower development, and tourism have further intensified pressures on the region's fragile ecosystems, underscoring the need for climate-resilient and risk-informed development pathways. The workshop will bring together policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and government officials to deliberate on resilient infrastructure planning, disaster risk management, sustainable development, and context-specific governance approaches for mountain regions. Through thematic technical sessions and expert deliberations, the workshop seeks to identify practical strategies for integrating climate science, geological risk assessments, and disaster resilience into infrastructure planning, with the objective of generating actionable policy recommendations for resilient, sustainable, and people-centric development across the Western Himalayas.
Speakers
Ms Rupali Thakur
Director MSHIPA
Dr Debajit Palit
Centre Head, Chintan Research Foundation
Mr Prabodh Saxena
Former Chief Secretary-cum-Chairman, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board
Er. R K Singh
Centre Head, Himachal Regional Centre, GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora, Uttarakhand
Dr V K Paul
Former Member, NITI Aayog
Dr Pushpendra Rana
Director, Department of Environment, Science & Technology, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh
Prof P K Joshi
Professor, School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Prof Tikender Singh Panwar
Professor of Practice, Shoolini University
Prof Anjal Prakash
Flame University, Pune
Mr Pradeep Thakur
Town and Country Planner, Mandi, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh
Er Sanjay Soni
Chief Engineer, Public Works Department (PWD), Govt. of Himachal Pradesh
Prof. Mohd Sultan Bhat
Professor, University of Kashmir
Dr Amit Gangotia
Professor School of Tourism & Travel Management, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala
Dr Mahesh Sharma
Himachal Pradesh University
Dr Sanjay Sood
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Department, Government of Himachal Pradesh
Dr Suresh C Attri
Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Environment, Science Technology and Climate Change, Government of Himachal Pradesh
Dr. B R Thakur
Associate Professor, Department of Geography (Specialisation, Regional development and Geospatial technologies ) Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) Shimla
Dr. Nicolas Ziv
Lead Specialist- Transport Sector Resilience, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Suksham Chauhan
FCIArb (UK), Solictor of Senior Courts of England & Wales | Indian Advocate | Fellow of Charter Institute of Arbitrators (UK)
Sh. Kamlesh Kumar Pant
IAS – Chief Secretary H.P.