Siliguri Becomes the First City to Adopt Climate Resilient City Action Plan
The Climate Resilient City Action Plan (CRCAP), developed for the city of Siliguri through Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supported CapaCITIES project, was deliberated upon in a stakeholder consultation on the 14th of September 2018. Following the same, the plan was tabled in the Member Mayor in Council Meeting, where it was accepted.
The plan was then presented in the Board Meeting of SIliguri Municipal Corporation and was unanimously adopted. With this, Siliguri becomes the first city in India to adopt the CRCAP.
Through the interventions proposed in the CRCAP, the city of Siliguri has committed to reduce annual GHG emissions of Siliguri by 14.6%by2022-23 compared to the baseline GHG emissions in 2015-16.
The plan analyses the existing situation of sector wise GHG emissions of the city and carries out a vulnerability assessment of the urban systems through the climate lens. Climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in each sector have been detailed in the plan.
The stakeholder consultation was attended by Mr. Andirn Fink, SDC; Mr. Asok Bhattacharya, Mayor, SMC; Mr. Ram Bhajan Mahato, Deputy Mayor, SMC; Mr. Mukul Sengupta, MMIC (Conservancy, Vehicle & Environment), SMC; Mr. Parimal Mitra, MMIC (Slum Development, UPE); Mr. Joy Chakraborty MMIC (Water Supply, Housing for All & Self Employment); Mr. Kamal Agarwal (Trade License, Parks & Gardens, Law & Guest Houses); Mrs. Snigdha Hazra, Councillor, Ward 2; Mr. Sonam Wangdi Bhutia, Commissioner, SMC; Mr. Saptarishi Nag, Secretary and Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), SMC and other officials of SMC. Representatives from prominent community based organisations like FOCIN, Pashim Banga Bigyan Mancho were also present.
Dr. Monalisa Sen, City Coach, ICLEI South Asia and Mr. Souhardhya Chakraborty, City Associate, ICLEI South Asia presented the CRCAP developed for Siliguri.
Mr. Bhattacharya stressed on the significance of such a plan for the rapidly urbanising city of Siliguri. Mr. Sengupta highlighted the need to incorporate plastic and thermocol waste into the plan. Mr. Chakraborty emphasised on the importance of the need to reduce non- revenue water loss, interventions for which have been suggested in the plan. Mr. Mitra brought forth the fact that the interventions should lay emphasis on the needs of the urban poor as well and build resilience of these communities as well. Mr. Bhutia congratulated the project team for having developed the comprehensive CRCAP for Siliguri and extended his whole hearted support to the plan and the interventions proposed in the same.
Mr. Fink expressed his happiness at the fact that the plan in accordance with the development priorities of the city of Siliguri.
The stakeholder consultation saw active participation from all the attendees, who collectively expressed their satisfaction on the plan.