Sikkim secures Rs 5 crore grant under CITIIS 2.0 at 12th Regional 3R & Circular Economy Forum

The Urban Development Department (UDD), Government of Sikkim, participated in the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum held at the International Rajasthan Centre, Jaipur. The forum focused on strategic policy discussions and best practices for mainstreaming the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and circular economy in the Asia-Pacific region.

A key highlight of the event was the signing of a tripartite agreement for the CITIIS 2.0 Challenge, under which Sikkim secured a Rs 5 crore challenge fund along with technical assistance in Component 2: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. The CITIIS 2.0 (City Investments to Innovate, Integrate, and Sustain) Challenge is a flagship initiative under the Smart Cities Mission, spearheaded by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), Government of India.

The UDD delegation was led by Commissioner-cum-Secretary Jitendra Singh Raje, accompanied by PCA-cum-Secretary Smt. Yogeeta Rai, Councillor (Mangan ULB) Tshering Doma Bhutia, Additional Secretary Jigmee Wangchuk Bhutia and Urban Planner Niranjan Kapil.

Sikkim’s proposal was lauded for its innovative approach to climate change mitigation, focusing on climate-smart urban infrastructure and green initiatives while preserving the state’s unique environmental and cultural heritage. The Rs 5 crore grant will be utilized to develop sustainable urban solutions across Sikkim’s urban centers, ensuring resilient and eco-friendly growth.