Chief Minister convenes meeting with Asian Development Bank delegation

GANGTOK, February 12 (IPR): Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang convened a meeting with a delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today to discuss the progress and future plans for the Integrated, Climate Resilient, and Sustainable Urban Development Project for Sikkim.

The ADB team, led by director Manoj Sharma and senior urban development specialist Hikaru Shoji, engaged in detailed discussions alongside senior project officer Bhavesh Kumar and consultants Akshat Jain and Jayakumar Vivakaran.

The meeting focused on the comprehensive development of various towns under the project. The ADB team provided insights into the project's intricacies and shared their observations from recent site visits to Rangpo and Singtam.

Stressing on the importance of adopting a holistic approach to urban infrastructure planning, the discussion focused on crucial aspects such as climate resilience, integration and sustainability.

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang highlighted the urgency of prompt action, directing officials to initiate the projects with the full cooperation and commitment of the State government.

The meeting signifies a pivotal step towards fostering collaboration between the State government and international development partners, reaffirming the commitment to address urban development challenges and enhance the quality of life for residents in Sikkim.

The deliberations concluded with a consensus on the need for concerted efforts to ensure the successful implementation of the urban development projects, aligning with the state's vision for sustainable growth and resilience in the face of climate challenges.

Also present during the meeting were Urban Development minister L.B. Das, Urban Development secretary M.T. Sherpa, principal chief engineer Chetraj Mishra, chief engineer Bhupendra Kothari, nodal officer Deepankar Lama and urban planner Niranjan Kapil.