Shimla : A team of the World Bank headed by Mr. John Roome, Regional Director (Sustainable Development), South Asia Region, visited the state on 5th to 6th February 2023 to explore new measures in resilient mountain communities in Himachal Pradesh and discussed the agendas in a meeting with the Chief Secretary, Prabodh Saxena here today before they met the Chief Minister.
The Government intends to move from Green Growth to Climate Resilient Green Himachal, said the Chief Secretary and added that the Department of Environment, Science Technology (DEST) was working to scale up green growth initiatives towards achieving the same.
New project engagements where State needs Assistance/Support from the World Bank were also discussed during the meeting. It includes Support for Green-EV-Mobility programme to achieve carbon neutrality in the state.
Support for Decongestion and Urban Mobility in all 12 District and Regional Project/Programme to develop good practices for sustainable catchments and environmental management for Hydro Sustainability, Sustainable Forestry and Natural Capital Management for Himachal under Green India Mission Approach.
Discussions were also held to Support for NRM through safe and sound management of Municipal Solid Waste (Urban/Peri-Urban and Rural) (Developing MSW dumping sites, setting up MRF in the state plastic etc., common TSDF for hazardous wastes) and reduce pressure on natural resources, mitigate methane impacts, ground water contamination etc. including support efficient water management through setting up micro Common Effluent Treatment Plants in industrial areas for safe treatment, disposal and reuse of waste water-water recharge and Leveraging Technology to Improve Governance and Service Delivery.
Chief Secretary, Prabodh Saxena said that in order to harmonize the developmental plans and strategies with river basin approach as one unit and work on Land-use planning, spatial planning, to develop Forest Catchments.
The Regional Director, John Roome reviewed the various ongoing projects funded by the World Bank during the meeting and the concerned HoDs and administrative secretaries presented the status of ongoing projects before the team.
Director Department of Environment, Science and Technology, Lalit Jain who was coordinating with the World Bank Team gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation before the team on different initiatives of Himachal Pradesh for Green Growth with the support from the Bank.
The World Bank team comprises Practice Manager – Water Ms. Sumila Gulyani, Program Leader Sustainable Development, Ms. Nataliya Kulichenko, Senior Environmental Specialist, Mr. Piyush Dogra, Lead Disaster Risk Management Specialist, Mr. Deepak Singh, Lead Operations Officer, Ms. Ipek Alkan, Senior Agribusiness Specialist, Mr. Adarsh Kumar, Team Leader, Ms. Carmen Yee Batista and Mr. Mathews Mullackal, Mr. Ramanujam.