New Delhi: Shiv Nadar University (SNU) today announced that they organized a workshop titled ”Urban Experiences: Bilbao & Delhi’ to discuss the issues of Zoning & Urban Planning, Environment & Pollution, Urban Governance, Public Spaces & Public Aesthetics. The workshop aimed towards exchanging ideas and urban experiences of Bilbao and Delhi.

Hosted by Centre for Public Affairs and Critical Theory (C-PACT) of Shiv Nadar University, the workshop was attended by the representatives of the Basque Government from Spain; Miguel Burzako, Cabinet Member, IboneBengoetxe, Deputy Mayor, and Gemma Rojo, Assistant Mayor, while the Indian delegation comprised Professor Dipankar Gupta Distinguished Professor & Director of C-PACT, Professor Shubhashis Gangopadhyay, Economist and Director, SHSS among others.

The two delegations met Ashish Khetan, vice chairperson of Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC) and apprised him of the initiatives taken by Bilbao city regarding urban rejuvenation and governance. Their discussions focused on river front management, waste management, preservation of culture, air and water pollution among other issues.

The DDC formed by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi has drawn up a 15-point agenda on developing the Capital on various fronts.

A delegation of experts from the Spanish town of Bilbao, which was ravaged by floods in 1983 and has since been rebuilt, shared its views on urban rejuvenation with the recently-appointed Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC) on Tuesday, while laying emphasis on the local-level initiatives for urban planning and zoning.

The workshop enabled the experts from Spain and India to exchange ideas and urban experiences in Bilbao and Delhi. Experts said priority should be accorded to mobility and public transport in cities in this process. Further, the discussions concluded with an emphasis on the need for local-level initiatives, creation of public spaces, and environment and pollution control.