Leh, Aug 25: Parvat Manthan, a pioneering initiative dedicated to sustainable development and sanitation solutions in hilly regions, recently hosted an exposure visit to Leh from August 20th to 24th. This event was organized in collaboration with prominent organizations including the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), BORDA South Asia, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and the National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (NFSSM) Alliance. The visit also involved on-ground expertise from Leh-based organization LEDeG.
The exposure visit brought together high-level delegates from Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), including representatives from Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, and Manipur. Additionally, officials from Nepal and Bhutan participated in the event, underscoring the regional significance of the initiative.
The delegation, comprising directors of ULBs, chief town planners, chief engineers, mission directors, and executive councillors, engaged in a series of field visits to explore innovative sanitation solutions and sustainable development practices tailored for hilly terrains.
A key highlight of the visit was the reflection session held on August 23rd at the Dragon. During this session, delegates shared their insights and expectations based on their observations and discussions from the field visits. The session provided a platform for comprehensive dialogue and reflection, facilitating a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainable development in mountainous regions.
Parvat Manthan reaffirmed its commitment to its objectives during the session, with participating organizations pledging to develop a detailed action plan within the next month. This plan aims to address the specific needs of hilly regions, incorporating the insights gained from the exposure visit.
The collaborative effort seeks to enhance the effectiveness of sanitation and development initiatives, ensuring that solutions are both practical and sustainable for the unique environmental and infrastructural challenges of hilly regions.
