Maharashtra: In a pivotal move toward combating climate risks, the Chandrapur City Municipal Corporation (CMC) and the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India (AKAH) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly implement transformative heat and flood mitigation projects in Chandrapur. This partnership, supported by Tata Trusts, is aimed at fostering community-led resilience and sustainable urban development.
Anchored in data-driven planning and community engagement, the collaboration will introduce a suite of interventions—from hazard risk assessments to retrofitting public infrastructure with climate-smart solutions. Over 200 homes in vulnerable neighbourhoods will be upgraded with passive cooling strategies, significantly reducing indoor heat stress during extreme summers
Advanced tools such as Land Surface Temperature (LST) analysis, Urban Heat Island (UHI) mapping, and Hazard Vulnerability Risk Assessment (HVRA) will inform strategies for building resilience in vulnerable communities. Public buildings such as a schools or municipal buildings, will be green, and retrofitted with energy and water-efficient appliances, along with promoting green spaces to demonstrate sustainable building design in action.
The project includes hydraulic and hydrogeological studies to guide the Chandrapur City Municipal Corporation to implement flood risk mitigation measures. AKAH will implement pilot projects like permeable paver blocks and recharge wells to manage stormwater and reduce surface runoff.
Community preparedness and capacity-building are at the heart of the program. Residents will be trained through the Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) framework, creating first responders and fostering a culture of readiness for climate-induced disasters.
Shri Vipin Paliwal, Commissioner, Chandrapur City Municipal Corporation, stated: “Chandrapur’s unique topography and socio-economic diversity demand climate solutions that are both locally rooted and scientifically informed. Through this partnership with the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India and Tata Trusts, we are taking a significant step toward addressing the dual challenges of extreme heat and urban flooding—risks that are growing more urgent each year. By leveraging data-driven strategies, innovative technologies, and strong community engagement, this initiative strengthens our commitment to building a climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Chandrapur for generations to come.”
Prerana Langa, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India stated: “This MoU is an important step toward building climate resilience through practical, community-based solutions. We will combine scientific assessments and hands-on approaches to address Chandrapur’s challenges related to heat and flooding. Our goal is to support Chandrapur with a model of adaptive urban transformation. We are grateful to the Chandrapur City Municipal Corporation and Tata Trusts for their vision and commitment, and look forward to building a safer, greener, and inclusive city together.”
The project will be overseen by a Joint Steering Committee and executed through project-specific definitive agreements, with strict adherence to quality standards and collaborative governance as outlined in the MoU.