IIPM organises training for urban local bodies staffers

The Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPM) is organising a two-day training programme on urban governance for employees of various urban bodies of the region.

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The event began at conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Dharamsala MC Commissioner Zaffar Iqbal, while talking to The Tribune, said IIPM experts conducted training for the employees urban local bodies (ULBs). The experts from IIPM were of the opinion ULBs in India were grappling with challenges, including sanitation, cleanliness, waste management and poor air quality.

Urbanisation had led to an increase in waste generation, yet many ULBs continued to struggle with inadequate solid waste management (SWM) infrastructure, outdated disposal systems and the contamination of land and water resources, the experts added.

Sanitation facilities were insufficient, with numerous areas lacking proper sewage treatment and disposal systems, they said.

Cleanliness was often compromised due to ineffective waste collection services, leaving streets and public spaces littered, they added.

The lack of efficient service delivery exacerbates these issues, as ULBs often operate with limited budgets and personnel. Moreover, the slow implementation of e-governance hinders transparency and accountability, making it difficult for citizens to access services and for officials to monitor and manage resources effectively. This gap not only affects the quality of urban life but also hampers sustainable development initiatives, making it crucial for ULBs to adopt innovative solutions and digital tools for improved governance, they said.

The experts said cities and towns in the state faced specific barriers in the smooth delivery of municipal services.

These include landslides and impact on buildings, roads, electricity, street lighting, water and drainage, high cost of using ground water for potable supply, lack of safe disposal points of drainage, unscientific disposal mechanism for septic tanks, absence of due disposal of dry waste and kitchen waste, earth quakes, flooding unique to hills, mobility due to motorised transport in hilly tracks and lack of data on urban land.

These types of problems needed solutions specific to the hills. Normally, government schemes ignored the specific needs of hilly areas, they added.

They said by combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications, the programme aimed to empower participants to implement strategies that enhance urban development within their local contexts.