Uttarakhand Urban Sanitation Conclave 2026

The Uttarakhand State Conclave on Urban Waste Management was held on 29 May 2026 in Dehradun, bringing together over 100 policymakers, urban practitioners, development partners, researchers, technical experts, and representatives from civil society to deliberate on the future of urban waste management in the Indian Himalayan Region.

Organised by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) under the guidance of the Urban Development Directorate, Government of Uttarakhand, and the Dr R.S. Tolia Uttarakhand Academy of Administration (ATI), Nainital, the conclave served as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collective reflection on the challenges and opportunities associated with urbanisation in ecologically sensitive mountain regions.

The discussions were structured around three interconnected themes: the implications of carrying capacity on urban service delivery, scaling effective solid and liquid resource management models, and Uttarakhand's evolving journey in urban water and waste management through multilateral partnerships. Drawing upon experiences from Uttarakhand and other Indian states, participants explored context-specific approaches to addressing seasonal population pressures, strengthening municipal service delivery, improving resource recovery, and building climate-resilient urban infrastructure.

A key highlight of the conclave was the articulation of Uttarakhand's vision for achieving zero-landfill urban systems, strengthening integrated waste management, enhancing the dignity and safety of sanitation workers, and advancing the state's aspiration of becoming a clean and garbage-free Dev Bhoomi. The event also showcased innovative practices from across the country and reinforced the importance of evidence-based planning, institutional capacity building, and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing the unique challenges of hill cities.

The conclave witnessed the launch of seven knowledge products developed by the Sanitation Capacity Building Platform (NIUA) with support from government institutions, urban local bodies, technical agencies, and development partners. These resources document best practices, policy innovations, research findings, digital tools, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at supporting sustainable urban sanitation and waste management across Uttarakhand and the wider Himalayan region.

As Uttarakhand continues to navigate the challenges of rapid urbanisation, tourism growth, and environmental vulnerability, the conclave reaffirmed the importance of locally adapted solutions, strong institutions, and collaborative action in building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities.