About
Dr. Santosh Murlidhar Pingale has been serving as Scientist-D at the Hydrological Investigations Division, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, since August 2018. In addition to his primary role, he actively engages with the global scientific community as Guest Editor & Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group), Associate Editor & Guest Editor for the Hydrological Sciences Journal of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) published by Taylor & Francis, and as a Panel Member of the Global Energy & Water Exchanges (GEWEX) – Global Hydroclimatology Panel (GHP) under the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Geneva. The GHP is one of the four core panels of GEWEX, headquartered at the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA.
Prior to joining NIH, Dr. Pingale worked as Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Water Resources & Irrigation Engineering at the Arba Minch Water Technology Institute, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia (2013–2018). He earned his Ph.D. in Water Resources Development & Management from the IIT Roorkee, India. His academic journey also includes roles as Senior Research Fellow at IIT Roorkee & Visiting Research Fellow at the Dept. of Civil, Geological & Environmental Engg., University of Saskatchewan, Canada under the Commonwealth Scholarship Program.
Dr. Pingale is an active researcher and reviewer for several leading international journals, with extensive publications in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. With over a decade of experience in research, consultancy, capacity building, & teaching, his expertise spans surface water–groundwater interactions, rainwater harvesting, watershed management, climate change, droughts, hydrogeology, remote sensing & GIS, and isotope applications in springs & lake studies. He has significant experience applying statistical techniques to water resources assessment at watershed, sub-watershed, & river basin scales using hydrologic models such as SWAT, WetSpa, and HBV. His proficiency also extends to soft computing methods (Fuzzy Logic & ANFIS). He supervises graduate research in water resources & hydrology, fostering innovative solutions to contemporary challenges.
In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Pingale was awarded the Canadian Commonwealth Fellowship (2010) by the Government of Canada, enabling his research at the University of Saskatchewan. More recently, he received the prestigious National Geospatial Professional Fellow Award 2024 for his work in Geospatial Science & Technology, conferred by the FOSSEE-GIS Project, IIT Bombay, under the National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT), Ministry of Education, Govt. of India. He has also been a recipient of fellowships from the Ministry of Education (formerly MHRD) & the ICAR, New Delhi. For more details, refer: https://online.nihroorkee.gov.in/profile/scientist/pingalesm
Projects
Geo-Social Synergies for Drought Adaptation: Integrating Geospatial Technologies, Social Vulnerability, and Cultural Strategies in the Marathwada region, Maharashtra
Agency: Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi
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Duration: 2 years (2025-2027)
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Role: Co-PI
Changing the fate of the Hindon River by evaluating the impact of agriculture on the water balance developing a template for a cleaner Ganga River
Agency: DST-NWO
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Duration: 2021-2025
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Role: Co-PI
Groundwater Rejuvenation as climate change resilience for marginalized and gender sensitive Ganges (GRACERS)
Agency: IHE Delft
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Duration: 2021-2023
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Role: Co-PI
Unravelling Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) zones along the Indian subcontinent (West Bengal).
Agency: MoES
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Duration: 2018-2021
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Role: Co-PI
Flow response of forty springs under land use/land cover change: A case study of forty spring, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Agency: AMU Funded
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Duration: 3 years
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Role: PI
Internal Studies
6
Investigations of Water Sources and Hydrological Behaviour of Two Small Lakes at Sri. Badrinath, Uttarakhand
Agency: Internal Funded
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Duration: 2025-2027
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Role: PI
Quantifying Current and Future Meteorological Drought Characteristics and Identifying Risk Zones in Central India
Agency: Internal Funded
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Duration: 2024-2026
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Role: Co-PI
Geo-Hydro-Chemical and Isotopic Aspects of Occurrence of Springs: A case study from the major settlement areas of Bhagirathi basin, Uttarakhand, India
Agency: Internal Funded
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Duration: 2021-2026
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Role: Co-PI
Runoff and water storage capacity estimation for deciding rainwater harvesting strategies
Agency: Internal Funded
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Duration: 2021-2025
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Role: PI
Sedimentation and water quality Studies of Phulhar Lake, Pilibhit (U.P.)
Agency: Internal Funded
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Duration: 2021-2025
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Role: Co-PI
Hydrological investigations of selected springs in Tehri-Garhwal district, Uttarakhand
Agency: Internal Funded
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Duration: 2019-2022
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Role: PI
Consultancy Projects
17
Rainwater Harvesting Potential Assessment and Design of Rainwater Harvesting Structures at NTPC Nabinagar
Agency: NTPC Ltd
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Duration: 6 monthss
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Role: PI
Integrated hydrological investigations and sedimentation studies of Wular Lake, Srinagar (Kashmir)
Agency: WUCMA
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Duration: 30 months
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Role: Co-PI
Study of seasonal changes in the quality of Ujjani Dam water and identification of sources of contamination wrt increase in ionic concentrations at Solapur STPP
Agency: NTPC Solapur
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Duration: 1 year
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Role: Co-PI
Rainwater Harvesting Potential Assessment and Design of Rainwater Harvesting Structures/ Facilities/Systems at NTPC Rihand.
Agency: NTPC Ltd
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Duration: 6 months
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Role: PI
Hydro-Geological Study for Kudgi Super Thermal Power Project Vijayapura, Karnataka
Agency: NTPC Ltd
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Duration: 12 months
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Role: Co-PI
Rainwater Harvesting Potential Assessment and Design of Rainwater Harvesting Structures/ Facilities/Systems at NSPCL Rourkela.
Agency: NSPCL
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Duration: 6months
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Role: Co-PI
Rainwater Harvesting Potential Assessment and Design of Rainwater Harvesting Structures/Facilities/Systems at NSPCL Durgapur.
Agency: NSPCL Durgapur
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Duration: 8 months
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Role: PI
Rainwater Harvesting Potential Assessment and Design of Rainwater Harvesting Structures/ Facilities/Systems at NTPC Solapur.
Agency: NTPC Ltd
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Duration: 6months
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Role: PI
Rainwater Harvesting Potential Assessment and Design of Rainwater Harvesting Structures /Facilities/Systems at NTPC Unchahar
Agency: NTPC Unchahar
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Duration: 6 months
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Role: PI
Rainwater Harvesting Potential Assessment and Design of Rainwater Harvesting Structures /Facilities/Systems at NTPC Singrauli.
Agency: NTPC Ltd
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Duration: 6 months
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Role: PI
Rainwater Harvesting Potential Assessment and Design of Rainwater Harvesting Structures /Facilities/Systems at NTPC Sipat.
Agency: NTPC Sipat
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Duration: 6 months
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Role: Co-PI
Feasibility study for implementation of urban runoff treatment plant and rainwater harvesting scheme in Krishna Nagar, Roorkee
Agency: Nagar Nigam, Roorkee
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Duration: 6 months
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Role: Co-PI
Isotopic/Hydrogeological investigations/design and installation of piezometric wells/rainwater harvesting/other studies and works in compliance of MoEF conditions against environment clearance granted for 1x660 MW Super critical project at Harduaganj
Agency: Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL)
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Duration: 3 years
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Role: Co-PI
Hydrology & Hydrogeological Study for Proposed RE-Hybrid Park at Khavda, District Kutch, Gujarat
Agency: Gujarat Industries Power Company Ltd (GIPCL)
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Duration: 6months
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Role: Co-PI
Assessment of impact of mining on surface water bodies in and around the lease area of S.M.P.L. at Village Kolkarhiya of Tehsil, Pawai in District Panna, Madhya Pradesh
Agency: M/s Springway Mining Private Limited, Chennai
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Duration: 1 year
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Role: Co-PI
Evaluation of design of stormwater drainage structure in Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Praani Udyan near Ramgarh Taal (wetland), Gorakhpur
Agency: Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Ltd (UPRNN), Lucknow
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Duration: 3 months
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Role: Co-PI
Estimation of surface runoff and groundwater recharge using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for micro-watersheds in Maharashtra and Gujarat
Agency: Alternative Development Initiatives (ADI), Chandigarh
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Duration: 3 months
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Role: Co-PI
Conference & Training
Seminar / Conference / Symposia
Organizing Member of the 4th Roorkee Water Conclave (RWC) 2026
International
Duration: February, 23 to 25, 2026
Location: IIT Roorkee
Joint Organizing Secretary, “The 10th International Groundwater Conference 2025 (IGWC 2025) with the theme on “Groundwater Vision 2047: Towards Water Security under Changing Climate”
International
Duration: March 5 to 7, 2025
Location: NIH Roorkee
Training / Workshop / Brainstorming
Successfully organized training course on “Scientific Data Collection & Processing Techniques for Springshed Management & Rejuvenation” under NHP during Dec 19 to 22, 2022. Number of Participants=23.
National
Duration: 4 days
Location: Irrigation Research Institute (IRI), Roorkee
Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on “GRACERS Project”
National
Duration: 1 day
Location: Haldia, West Bengal
Successfully organized training course on “Advanced Tools & Techniques for Hydrological Investigations” during Feb 22 to 26, 2021 on virtual platform. Number of Participants=49.
National
Duration: FIVE (05) days
Location: Roorkee
Successfully organized training course on “Tools & Techniques for Hydrological Investigations” during 4 to 8 Nov 2019. Number of Participants=34
National
Duration: FIVE (05) days
Location: Roorkee
Student Guidance
Doctoral Supervision
An integration of multiple hydro-meteorological variables for comprehensive drought characterization in the changing climate for central India
Student: Ruchir Patidar
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2026
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Role: Co-Guide
Groundwater management in changing climate by developing a complete 3D groundwater balance model
Student: Sourav Chaudhary
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2025
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Role: Co-Guide
Assessment of selected irrigation project schemes performance: A case study of spate irrigation schemes in Konso, Ethiopia
Student: Ayana Hirbo
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University/Institute: Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
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Year: 2015
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Role: Guide
Groundwater Potential Zone Mapping of East Champaran District, Bihar using Geospatial and AHP Technique
Student: Aditya Shekhar
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2024
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Role: Co-Guide
Evaluation of failures and design practices of river diversion structures for irrigation: A case study of two selected small scale irrigation schemes in Hadiya zone, Ethiopia
Student: Fayisa Ertiro
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University/Institute: Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
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Year: 2016
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Role: Guide
Estimating the effect of climate change on groundwater recharge and base flow in Tekeze Sub-catchment, Tekeze river basin, Ethiopia
Student: Kiflom Degef
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University/Institute: Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
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Year: 2017
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Role: Guide
Investigation of surface water resources potential for surface irrigation under climate change scenario: A case study of Birr Watershed, Ethiopia
Student: Alemu Ademe
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University/Institute: Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
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Year: 2017
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Role: Guide
GIS-based assessment of land suitability for surface irrigation: A case study of Dirma irrigation scheme, North Gondar, Ethiopia
Student: Asfaw Birhanu
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University/Institute: Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
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Year: 2017
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Role: Co-Guide
Evaluating failures of rainwater harvesting ponds for supplementary irrigation in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda, Ethiopia
Student: Endrias Wage Wanto
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University/Institute: Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
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Year: 2018
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Role: Guide
GIS based soil erosion risk evaluation using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model: a case study on Gidabo Watershed, Ethiopia
Student: Tamene Bekele Tebe
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University/Institute: Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
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Year: 2018
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Role: Guide
Evaluation of climate change impacts on Arjo-Didessa Reservoir, Ethiopia
Student: Geleta Guta
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University/Institute: Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
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Year: 2018
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Role: Guide
Evaluation of climate change impacts and climate variability on streamflow in the Yadot river, Ethiopia
Student: Degemu Abza
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University/Institute: Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
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Year: 2019
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Role: Guide
Assessment of catchment soil erosion & sediment management in Hirakud Reservoir using remote sensing and GIS
Student: Rajendra Kumar Mishra
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2019
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Role: Co-Guide
Water resources management plan in smart cities – A case study of Dehradun city
Student: Ruchi Tripathi
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2019
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Role: Co-Guide
Effect of River Linking Project on Groundwater in Betwa sub basin of Bundelkhand region, Uttar Pradesh
Student: Satyendra Singh
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2020
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Role: Co-Guide
Impact assessment of land use/land cover and climate change on streamflow in Bagmati river basin, Nepal
Student: Shankar Budhathoki
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2020
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Role: Co-Guide
Rainwater harvesting for three cities in Myanmar
Student: Tint Naing Linn
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2020
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Role: Co-Guide
Sustainable urban water supply management: A case study of Addis Abeba City, Ethiopia
Student: Zayd Gebrehiwot Gebresilase
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2021
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Role: Co-Guide
Water availability assessment using HEC-HMS model for Madi River Basin of Nepal
Student: Govinda Prasad Bhurtel
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2021
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Role: Co-Guide
Vulnerability of irrigation water requirement to climate change scenarios in case of Egypt
Student: Abdelhamid Ads
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University/Institute: IIT Roorkee
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Year: 2021
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Role: Co-Guide