Ziraat Times Team Report
New Delhi: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has announced a ₹1,000 crore dedicated fund to accelerate solid waste management in hill and Himalayan cities under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0. The announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, during the valedictory session of the National Urban Conclave 2025, which concluded at Yashobhoomi India International Convention Centre, New Delhi.
The Hill and Himalayan Cities Focused Fund aims to address the unique ecological and infrastructural challenges faced by mountain towns, promoting sustainable waste management and environmental resilience. Shri Sahu said the initiative aligns with the government’s vision of building inclusive, resilient, and well-governed cities as part of the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap.
“Our vision of Viksit Bharat is of an India where every urban citizen—be it a street vendor, waste manager, construction worker, or gig worker—becomes a dignified partner in the nation’s development,” the Minister said.
The two-day conclave featured high-level deliberations on urban governance, circular economy, and housing ecosystems, with experts and policymakers exploring institutional innovations and scalable sustainability practices.
During the event, several initiatives were launched to strengthen urban research, planning, and policy capacity:
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MoU Exchange: Between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Osmania University, IIPA, and AIILSG to enhance training, research, and resource development in the urban sector.
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Launch of IIRS Sankalan App: A GIS-based tool to make urban surveys smarter and faster through on-site geo-tagging and real-time data collection.
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Centre for Public Policy on Habitat and Housing: Established at NIUA, Delhi, to promote research, advocacy, and data-driven policymaking for affordable and inclusive urban housing.