2-Day Workshop on “Carrying Capacity and Hill Area Planning” Concludes at Shoghi

Shoghi, Marr.01, 2026
A two-day workshop on “Carrying Capacity and Hill Area Planning” was successfully organized by the EIACP PC Hub at Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology & Environment (HIMCOSTE), Shimla in collaboration with School of Planning and Architecture (SPA — EIACP PC-RP, New Delhi) from 28′ February to 10 March, 2026 at the CSLC —Science Museum. The programme sensitized 58 Civil Engineering students from nearby universities on the critical aspects of sustainable hill development. The workshop aimed to strengthen students’ technical understanding of carrying capacity assessment, sustainable hill area planning, environmental conservation and scientific approaches to regulating development in fragile mountainous ecosystems.
Dr. Suresh C. Attri, Joint Member Secretary, HIMCOSTE, graced the valedictory session as Chief Guest. Addressing the participants, Dr. Attri stated that the workshop was designed to enhance practical understanding of carrying capacity, particularly in ecologically sensitive hill regions like Himachal Pradesh. He emphasized that the sessions were structured to help students comprehend the unique characteristics of hill areas in India, their vulnerability to disasters, and the importance of scientific and evidence-based planning to safeguard ecological balance.
Dr. Attri informed that the technical sessions were conducted by Prof. Dr. M. S. Thakur, Former Engineer-in-Chief, Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department, and Dr. Arunva Poddar, Assistant Professor at Shoolini University. The experts deliberated on safe and sustainable development in hilly terrains, disaster risk management, environmental protection, and climate-related challenges. They elaborated on the concept of carrying capacity, stressing that development must align with natural limits, resource availability, and environmental conditions.
Key discussions covered scientific land-use planning, slope stability management, water resource conservation, traffic regulation and responsible tourism practices. The experts cautioned that unplanned construction and excessive pressure on natural resources often result in landslides, water scarcity and environmental degradation in hill states.
Prof. Dr. Meenakshi Dhote, Dean (Academics) and Coordinator, SPA EIACP PC-RP, New Delhi, joined the workshop online and appreciated HIMCOSTE for organizing the programme on such a significant and timely subject. She expressed gratitude to Dr. Attri and the organizing team for their collaborative efforts.
The workshop concluded with the distribution of certificates to all participants. Sh. Umesh Pathania, Sh. Ajay Panwar, Smt. Jai Priya from HIMCOSTE and Ms. Ekta Chaudhary, SPA EIACP New Delhi and Dr. Ravikant Thakur from CSLC were also present during the programme. The initiative marks another important step towards promoting environmentally responsible planning and sustainable development practices in Himachal Pradesh’s hill regions.