Key Achievements during 1990-2015 (25 yrs)

Doctoral degree holder (Ph. D) in Geophysics from the Osmania University, Hyderabad after obtaining M.Tech from Osmania University and a Masters degree holder in Business Administration (MBA) from Delhi. Trained Life Coach in the area of Mastering Life’s Energies.

Setting up of an independent organisation - Advanced Centre for Integrated Water Resources Management (AC-IWRM) after wide range of consultations among various departments in the state and across various levels of governance to bring in IWRM and River Basin planning & management in Karnataka. Extensive Training Needs Analysis of the Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Karnataka designing a Capacity Building program for engineers which will lead to a Carreer Advancement Scheme (CAS) for engineers.

Award of Ph.D. degree by Osmania University in a science discipline with firm interface with social science discipline – the calculated risk I took putting at stake my own doctoral work. This shifted my perspective from a mono-disciplinary arrogant science professional to an integrated mutil-disciplinary approach to the development issues.

Successful Innovation in Groundwater Management – paradigm shift from private property to common property resource – scientific data collection by farmers – data sharing with the larger user community - voluntary actions for management – improved crop diversity from 7 to 29 crops – knowledge as powerful social status – gender equity – securing household food and nutrition security and enhanced farm incomes.

Upscaling of farmer managed groundwater initiative in various states by closely working with the Parliament of India, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, The World Bank and various state governments.

Farmers Water Schools – innovation in training methodology – Non-formal education techniques and Experiential Learning cycle – multiple learning cycle for maximum outreach with minimum resources and specific time period – partnership with World Education.

Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation – developed a highly transparent and accountable detailed framework for program involving 15 partners, multi-sectoral activities and wide geographical areas.

Proved that NGOs network can implement innovative program providing sound science and technology inputs and phase-out of the implementation handing over the assets and knowledge to the farming communities and enable strong partnership between the farmers groups and district level government machinery harnessing huge benefits.

Designed and conducted an international training course (2 weeks) for participants from 16 countries and enabled them develop strategies to build the demand side groundwater management program in their respective countries.

Preparation of a Master Plan for IRBM of Wang River basin in Bhutan using the expertise from my projects and establishing partnership between Indian and Bhutan teams.

Modernization of Irrigation Management – team member to develop the MASSCOTE methodology and widely test in the field, resource trainer to train government water resource engineers, rapid holistic assessments of irrigation systems performance, etc. State governments, National government and The World Bank welcomed this approach as Being a key resource trainer for China, Uzbekistan, Tazikistan, Kazakastan and other central asian countries in the area of Modernization of Irrigation Management – introducing the methodology, conducting field assessments and providing a roadmap for the new strategies.

State Water Policy work in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states – identifying the key drivers for effective water management and compiling issues for focus in the re-drafting of the policies.

Facilitated and Coordinated the preparation of Andhra Pradesh state Water Vision 2020 – organizing wide ranging consultations with varied stakeholder spectrum in the state.

Drainage and Salinity in canal command areas – successfully piloted the use of sub-surface drainage (SSD) technology by the line departments of State’s and integrated the same into the government programs.

Was instrumental in identifying ways and means to identify and use regular central government funds for sub-surface drainage (SSD) technology works and upscaling to various states, notably Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.

Partnership development between Indian and Foreign universities for capacity building of hundreds of Indian researchers, teaching faculty and scientist community in the area of water management.

Water use efficiency – field research coordination and mentoring the scientific staff for developing partnership with NGOs and Farmer’s organizations.

Soil moisture management – dryland agriculture – addressing the gaps between environment, agriculture and rural development agencies with farmers at the fore front.

Implemented an integrated water resources management program, with clear focus on field testing and piloting the (then) new national watershed guidelines, in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh state, assisting Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Water Resources in evolving the guidelines and GO-NGO partnerships.

Setting up of World Water Institute (WWI) in Pune, India.

Partnership with Baba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and an NGO in using the environmental isotopes for studying the groundwater flows, identifying recharge zones and the estimating the age of the waters.

Contributed to the National energy security program by investigating, exploring and assessing the lignite resources for setting up Barsingsar Thermal Power plant in the desert area of Rajasthan state.