Ms. Namrata Sankhla will present her APS as per the details below:

Date:    Friday, 27 February 2026

Time:   1130 - 1300 hrs.  

Venue: C-TARA Conference Room No. 1

Title:   Integrated Surface and Groundwater Modelling to Strengthen Water Governance in Maharashtra

Supervisor: Prof. Parmeshwar D. Udmale  

RPC Members: Prof. Priya Jadhav, Prof. T. I. Eldho  

Abstract:

Globally, nearly 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and large populations experience recurring water stress. India is classified as a highly water-stressed country, with per-capita water availability below 1200 m³/year. Heavy reliance on groundwater for irrigation has resulted in continuous groundwater depletion, particularly in semi-arid regions. The Godavari River Basin, a major river system in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra State, is increasingly affected by hydro-climatic variability and growing pressure on available water resources. Previous studies in the region mainly focus on individual surface water and groundwater assessments on larger aspects, while understanding the integration of surface water and groundwater at the local micro watershed level is crucial for sustainable water resource management. In this background, the study presents an integrated surface groundwater modelling approach in two selected contrasting hydrological settings in the Godavari River Basin with different groundwater scenarios. Also, a holistic surface and groundwater governance with well-defined roles and responsibilities of multisectoral and multi-stakeholders is essential to ensure water security. The study also explores the understanding on multi-scale water governance assessment to look into the challenges and opportunities in how institution's policies, schemes and management practices influence water security with different hydrological setups. The findings from the study are expected to provide valuable insights for evidence-based decision-making to ensure sustainable water resources management mainly for irrigation purposes.