Towards Resilient Infrastructure Planning in the Western Himalayas

Towards Resilient Infrastructure Planning in the Western Himalayas

10 July, 2026 | 10:00 AMVenue : Dr Manmohan Singh HP Institute of Public Administration (MS HIPA), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
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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.

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