RCA Onboarding Meeting for West Bengal
September 11, 2024
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Language
Government of India
Government of India
About RCA
About us
Rivers are among the most productive natural ecosystems, providing various environmental, economic, and social benefits. Cities along the river banks or rivers flowing through them are distinctly placed to reap these benefits. However, most cities have just harnessed a fraction of this potential.
In 2019, the Honorable Prime Minister highlighted the importance of cities along rivers taking responsibility for their rejuvenation. This led to the formation of the River Cities Alliance (RCA) in November 2021, initially with 30 river cities, now expanding to 142+ cities. Urban areas in India play a significant role in river degradation, making managing urban rivers an emerging paradigm. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), and other partners have pioneered the creation of frameworks and guidance documents such as the Urban River Management Plan (URMP) and the Guidelines for Preparing River Sensitive Master Plan to assist cities in sustainably maintaining the health of their rivers. Namami Gange, through its integrated and comprehensive framework on river rejuvenation, has been at the forefront of efforts in the Ganga River basin and can serve as a successful model for similar initiatives in other river basins across India.
Our Activities
Capacity Building
Our Capacity Building programs are designed to equip urban local bodies (ULBs) with the necessary skills and knowledge for managing urban rivers. Through a series of workshops, training sessions, and certification courses, we aim to enhance the competencies of city officials in areas such as Urban River Management Plans (URMP), used water management, and reuse strategies. These programs foster a deeper understanding of river-sensitive urban planning and help implement sustainable practices across RCA member cities. This approach ensures a steady pipeline of qualified professionals ready to enhance urban local bodies (ULBs) with sustainable river management practices.
Technical Support
The Technical Support initiative under the River Cities Alliance (RCA) focuses on providing on-demand sector-specific expertise to member cities for urban river management. This includes consulting services from national and international experts on integrated urban water management, hydrology, urban planning, solid waste management, biodiversity, and more. The aim is to enhance the capacity of city officials and urban planners in implementing river-sensitive projects and policies, ensuring sustainable and effective river management practices.
Institutional Development
Institutional Development within RCA involves creating dedicated Urban River Cells/Units within ULBs, ensuring a focused approach towards urban river management. This initiative includes the development of governance frameworks, capacity building of officials through certification modules, and fostering inter-departmental coordination. By institutionalizing river management, we aim to create resilient and well-governed urban river ecosystems.
Knowledge Exchange & Networking
RCA’s Knowledge Exchange and Networking platform facilitates the sharing of best practices, experiences, and innovative solutions among member cities. Through annual summits, regional meetings, and exposure visits, we create opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. This platform also connects RCA cities with international experts and organizations, promoting global knowledge exchange and fostering a community of practice in urban river management.
Knowledge Creation and Documentation
RCA’s knowledge creation efforts are focused on developing frameworks, tools, toolkits, advisories, and documentation for river-sensitive planning in cities. This work follows a systems approach to address the environmental, economic, and social aspects of river management. RCA also documents best practices in different cities to inform the planning of similar initiatives in other cities. The frameworks developed under RCA are intended to complement and work in synergy with existing city plans and ongoing missions. This approach focuses on both long-term interventions requiring transformative change and short-term interventions to address immediate issues.
City Innovation Challenge
Commin Soon
Action Research
The action research within RCA focuses on delving into the linkage between basin-wide risks and city-level initiatives from environmental, economic, and social perspectives. The research undertaken picks up pertinent themes such as assessment and management of riverine islands, waterbody diagnosis, eco-friendly riverfront development, and research projects by selected candidates under the Student Thesis Competition. It also aims to explore synergies between River Basin Management (RBM) and Urban Resilience Management and Planning (URMP).
Exposure Visits
Exposure visits, facilitated by the River Cities Alliance (RCA), play a crucial role in promoting peer-to-peer learning among member cities. Recognising the significance of collaborative learning and sustainable urban river management development, the RCA organises these visits to cities that have shown excellence in various aspects of river management. These visits offer a valuable opportunity for cities to share best practices, experiences, and innovations, thereby strengthening their collective ability to tackle the challenges of urban river sustainability. By enabling direct observation and interaction, exposure visits help city officials and stakeholders gain practical insights and inspiration to implement effective river management strategies in their own regions.
Outreach and Advocacy
The River Cities Alliance (RCA) conducts outreach and advocacy through various initiatives. This includes hosting regional and annual summits like DHARA, which bring together stakeholders to discuss important issues regarding urban river management. NIUA and NMCG also offer training programs on Urban River Management and River-sensitive Development. Additionally, RCA provides opportunities for member cities to participate in forums at national, state, and city levels, and actively seeks feedback from cities on the knowledge frameworks developed under RCA. The RCA platform disseminates valuable information through member groups, social media, and its official website about new engagements under its partnership.