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New Delhi: As hill cities and major tourist destinations face the challenge of tackling mammoth landfills of plastic and other municipal waste, Centre has decided to roll out Clean Himalayan Cities Initiative soon to provide financial and technical assistance. Speaking at a workshop organised by the housing and urban affairs ministry, experts working in these areas flagged the culture of consumption of instant noodles and energy drinks rather than local food, which also generate huge plastic waste.Addressing experts and stakeholders, housing and urban affairs secretary S Katikithala said that there is an urgent need to address growing concerns as cities in hill states witness a tourism surge and organise events and festivals bringing in large crowds.
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Officials said that besides the cities in hill states, foothill cities of West Bengal — Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong, Mirik and Siliguri — are also included in the initiative.“Under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban, Himalayan hill cities have demonstrated several impactful on-ground initiatives and best practices that offer replicable and scalable solutions, driven by strong community participation and supported by appropriate technologies. Building on these successes and with an aim to further accelerate and amplify such efforts, this initiative will strengthen collaboration, share knowledge and chart a sustainable pathway for clean and resilient hill cities,” the ministry said.Officials said that India’s hill and Himalayan states — including Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and select cities in West Bengal — face distinct urban challenges due to fragile ecosystems, steep and unstable terrain, dispersed settlements and extreme climatic conditions.The ministry said, “Following the workshop, participating states/ UTs will undertake detailed assessments to identify priority focus areas, evaluate requirements, and prepare comprehensive plans for submission to the ministry. These interventions are proposed to be rolled out in early 2026, with the objective of bringing about tangible improvements and visible changes in the Himalayan hill cities.”
