Guwahati: The Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) hosted the 11th Meet of the Mountain States (MoMS) on Friday coinciding with World Water Day.
The theme of the event centered on “Water Resources in the Himalaya – Disaster Resilience and Reduction,” aiming to address pressing issues related to disaster resilience in mountainous regions.
MoMS, an annual event of IMI, serves as a platform for policymakers, elected representatives, partners of IMI, and other relevant agencies to collaborate on priority actions concerning key mountain issues.
In his opening address, Ramesh Negi, President of IMI, outlined the objectives of MoMS 2024, emphasising the importance of sensitising policymakers to the unique challenges faced by mountain communities in disaster management.
Roshan Rai, Secretary of IMI, shared the impact of disasters on mountain populations, urging for greater national attention to address these issues.
This year’s event received support from the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), and Sustainable Development Forum of Uttarakhand (SDFU).
The inaugural session, focusing on Geo Hydrology of the Himalaya and Disasters, saw Smt Rita Khanduri, Hon’ble Speaker of Uttarakhand, as the Chief Guest. Padmashree Dr. Eklabya Sharma, Strategic Advisor & Distinguished Fellow at ATREE, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the challenges posed by climate change to Himalayan glaciers and advocating for proactive measures to ensure disaster preparedness.
Khanduri emphasised the importance of bridging research with policy and involving local communities in decision-making processes, particularly in addressing tourism pressures and limiting activities in ecologically fragile areas.
Technical sessions delved into topics such as the linkage between Himalayan geology, river systems, and disaster response, chaired by Dr. Durgesh Pant, DG of UCOST. Panelists shared insights on evidence-based disaster risk reduction and emphasised the integration of community participation in planning processes.
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The summary of the meet, presented by Sushil Ramola, emphasised the need for focused actions and capacity building initiatives, alongside advocating for increased funding allocation to mountain states in the 16th Finance Commission.
Participants included elected representatives from the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), policymakers, government officials, academia, researchers, funding agencies, and IMI members from mountain states. Additionally, a photography exhibition on the recent Teesta Disaster was showcased during the event.
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