In response to escalating climate challenges, the Department of Architecture and Planning at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, has launched a ten-day workshop titled “Participatory Mapping of Extreme Climate Events in Bhopal.” This initiative is designed to foster community-driven solutions to climate impacts such as urban heat and flooding.
The workshop, organized in three progressive phases throughout the year, commenced with its first phase on May 13, focusing on heat vulnerability assessment.
Key dignitaries in attendance
Dr. George V. Joseph, Joint Director, Disaster Management Institute, Dr. Lokendra Thakkar, State Wetland Authority & Climate Change Knowledge Management Centre, EPCO, experts and representatives from the World Resources Institute, UN Women, IIFM, Lok Vigyan, and community organizations.
In his address, Dr. Joseph emphasized participatory mapping as a crucial tool for urban climate resilience, highlighting how the urban heat island effect disproportionately impacts low-income communities. Dr. Thakkar elaborated on combining scientific models with grassroots insights to create effective vulnerability assessments and climate action plans.
Workshop aims to
- Conduct participatory mapping and impact assessments
- Engage stakeholders through community dialogue
- Create localized strategies to address heat and flood risks in vulnerable urban areas
Workshop Phases
Phase 1 (May 13–16): Heat Vulnerability Assessment
Phase 2 (September 8–11): Flood Vulnerability Assessment
Phase 3 (November 4): Climate Action Planning
The initiative is spearheaded by Prof. Karunesh K. Shukla (Director, MANIT) as Chief Patron, with Prof. S.P.S. Rajput and Prof. Nakul Dhagat serving as Patrons. The workshop is coordinated by Dr. Surabhi Mehrotra, Dr. Premjeet Das Gupta, and Dr. Arshi Parashar.
“This workshop is a significant step toward identifying local climate vulnerabilities and providing inclusive and sustainable solutions to communities,” remarked one of the coordinators.
Workshop saw participation from several distinguished individuals
Several distinguished participants included: Mr. Prateek Barapatre, World Resources Institute India,Dr. Jigyasa Bisaria, Assistant Professor in Quantitative Techniques and Information Technology at the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Dr. Soumya Jyoti Ray, Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna, Dr. S.R. Azad, General Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Vigyan Sabha, Sunil Shukla, filmmaker and social activist, Sunita Parihar,community representative, Dr. Vikas Poonia, Centre of Excellence in Water Management, MANIT, Dr. Manmohan Kapshe, and Dr. Alka Bhara, Professor,MANIT.
These attendees brought diverse perspectives and expertise, enriching the workshop’s discussions on participatory GIS and climate resilience.
As Bhopal faces the growing threat of climate extremes, this hands-on, research-based initiative aims to build resilience from the ground up—anchored in science, participation, and local knowledge.
