The three-day International Conference on Management of Infrastructure (ICMI-2016) at UPES focused on India's energy policy and solar energy challenges in Uttarakhand. Prominent speakers highlighted various topics including energy market dynamics and environmental issues in hydropower, emphasizing sustainable development and long-term policy planning. The conference concluded with calls for collaboration between academia and government on energy storage and infrastructure longevity.

1. From the Desk of: ARUN DHAND
DIRECTOR –GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & MEDIA AFFAIRS
Feb 07, 2016
Press Note
UPES aptly poised to contribute towards Energy sector says Mr. Panwar
3 Day International Conference on Management of Infrastructure concludes
The three day International Conference on Infrastructure Management (ICMI-2016) ICMI concluded in the Kandoli
campus of UPES with some extremely engrossing talks and engaging Panel Discussions. Panel discussions included
two very relevant issues at the national level and the state level which were around ‘India’s Energy Policy in wake
of declining crude prices’ and ‘Potential & Challenges of Solar Energy in Uttarakhand’. The panelists for
deliberations of the national issue consisted of Dr. Kirit Parikh, former member of Planning Commission of India ;
Mr. Ashok Bhattacharya, Editor of Business Standard; Dr Umakant Panwar, Principal secretary of Energy in
Uttarakhand ; Mr Utpal Ghosh, President of UPES and Mr. S.N Verma, Managing Director, UJVNL while Panelists
for the deliberations on the state subject comprised of Dr Kamal Bansal, Dean of College of Engineering , UPES ;
Dr Andallib Tariq, Professor from IIT-Roorkee ; Mr. N R Raje, Former Director(R&D) of IOCL and Dr Prasoon
Dwivedi, Professor from College of Management & Economic Studies, UPES.
Some very absorbing talks were given by the eminent personalities who participated in this conference over the
three days which included the talk on “Changing Dynamics in Energy Markets – India’s Energy Security
Perspective”; “Regulation and Policy in Infrastructure Development” by Mr Ashok Bhattacharya, Editor of
Business India; Presentaion by Dr Umakant Panwar on “ Uttarakhand’s Energy Scenario”; “Environmental
Challenges in Hydro Power” by ‘CHIPKO’ fame Sh Sunderlal Bahuguna; The talk on “Make in India – Challenges &
Issues” by Dr Pravakar Sahoo,Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi and “Implementation of Smart City Project
– Issues on the Ground” by Mr Saurabh Vohra, JLL, India. Saurabh is also an UPES Alumini.
Some of the key messages given out to the audience by speakers included the message of Sh Sunderlal Bahuguna
, who in his in his address stressed that in the first place we need to avoid felling of trees for development
purposes but if the accruable benefits far exceeds the damage which would be caused then we first need to plant
new trees which should be in excess of at least ten times of those which need to be felled. Mr Umakant’s message
was more towards UPES wherein he advised the UPES team to focus on “Energy Storage Perspectives of
Uttarakhand” and encouraged them to come forward and engage with the state government and contribute
towards framing of long term Energy policy of Uttarakhand. The ‘Special Invitee’ from Media Mr Kushal Kothiyal,
Editor of Dainik Jagran, Uttarakhand in his key message shared that in his view the most important parameter in
Infrastructure Policy framing is the longevity factor and must be done keeping at least the next two generations in
mind.
The key note address at the ‘Valedictory’ was given by Mr. Vinayak Chatterjee, Co-Founder & MD of Feedback
India while thw ‘Valedictory’ was done by Dr. Nikhil Kulshrestha , Assistant Dean. Convener’s report was read out
by Dr. Tarun Dhingra and Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. S.P.S. Narang, Distinguished Professor, UPES.
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