IMPHAL, NOV 22: For the first time in Manipur, the North East Zonal Conference was hosted in Imphal on Saturday. Organised by the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI), the conference was held at Hotel Classic Grande.
A day-long conference brought together experts and planners to deliberate on contemporary issues and emerging challenges in urban and regional planning across the North Eastern Region.
The conference was held under the themes, “Strengthening Regulatory Compliance and Sustainable Urban Development; Prioritizing Non-Motorized Transport (NMT): Walking and Cycling and Urban Resilience to Climate Extremes: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies.”
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R.K. Dinesh Singh, Principal Secretary (MAHUD), Government of Manipur, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The conference was also attended by Pradeep Kumar, President, ITPI, New Delhi; S. Devender Reddy, Vice President, ITPI, New Delhi; Jitendra L. Bhople, Secretary General, ITPI, New Delhi; and Nepram Gitkumar Singh, Council Member, ITPI.
Speaking at the gathering of town planners, policymakers, and experts from across the country, R.K. Dinesh expressed gratitude to the organisers, the Town Planning Department, and ITPI India for hosting such an important conference in Manipur. He highlighted that although Manipur is a small state, it faces major challenges, making it an ideal testing ground for policies that could later be implemented elsewhere in India.
He outlined key issues such as recurring urban floods due to the State’s river basins and valley geography, as well as rising air pollution worsened by temperature inversion and the bowl-shaped terrain of Manipur. He noted that even moderate AQI levels can have severe impacts in such conditions.
The chief guest emphasised the need for sustainable, resilient urban planning to address challenges in sanitation, sewerage, transport, and the growing pressure of urban migration. He welcomed the presence of top professionals from across India, calling it a valuable opportunity for brainstorming and developing policies to make towns cleaner, more resilient, and future-ready. He concluded by thanking all participants and expressing optimism for fruitful outcomes from the conference.
Pradeep Kumar mentioned that this is the first-ever ITPI event being hosted in Manipur, and extended his sincere gratitude to all council members for selecting Manipur for the Northeast Zonal Conference, and for the strong support received from the planners of Manipur.
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Expressing his sincere gratitude to all council members for selecting Manipur for the Northeast Zonal Conference, and for the strong support received from the planners of Manipur, Pradeep Kumar maintained that the themes chosen for this conference are timely and significant for the region.
The President emphasised that promoting non-motorised transport, especially cycling offers clear advantages as it improves public health and contributes to environmental protection. Equally important is strengthening urban resilience to climate change. Across both hill and plain areas, we are witnessing the impacts of changing environmental conditions like landslides, flooding, and other challenges arising from human activities and climate variability. He further stated that recognising these, it was important to deliberate on these themes. That is why experts from different parts of the country were invited to share their perspectives, and look forward to learning from them.
A book titled “Hill Area Planning”, published by the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI), was also released during the function by the Chief Guest.