# NITI Aayog drafts planning framework for vulnerable hill cities 2026-08-12T22:10:57+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The government told Lok Sabha on Tuesday that it is developing a planning framework for Himalayan cities as climate change and human activity increase disaster risks. NITI Aayog is working on the Hill City Regions Planning Initiative, which will address ecological carrying capacity, climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure, governance, and financing. The reply acknowledged that both climate change and anthropogenic factors are raising the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events in the region. A separate framework by the CP Kukreja Foundation for Design Excellence warned that Himalayan disasters can no longer be treated as isolated natural events. It noted that roads, hydrology, tourism, and disaster management are planned separately despite their interconnected impact on mountain systems. The foundation called for multi-hazard zoning and scientific assessments of population, tourism, water, and ecological stress before granting development approvals. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Tags: climate change, cloudburst, disaster risk, Himalayan cities, NITI Aayog, urban planning Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/niti-aayog-drafts-planning-framework-for-vulnerable-hill-cities/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/niti-aayog-drafts-planning-framework-for-vulnerable-hill-cities/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.