PWRDA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Technical Manager ( Agriculture )
Job Titles:
- Administrative Officer - I
Dr. Karan Avtar Singh, IAS (Retd.) is the Chairperson of Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority. He joined in August, 2020 as the first Chairperson of the Authority. Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority has been established under ‘The Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Act, 2020. It consists of a Chairperson and two full-time Members. Its mandate is to provide for the management and regulation of water resources of the State for ensuring the judicious, equitable and sustainable utilization and management thereof, and for matters connected therewith.
Dr. Karan Avtar Singh worked as Chief Secretary to Government of Punjab from March, 2017 to June, 2020. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1984 and worked in various capacities during his service.
After completing his Graduation in Economics from Delhi University he completed his LLB (Law Degree) from Delhi University in 1983. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Dr Surinder S Kukal, an agricultural graduate, holds a PhD in Soil Physics and Water Management. He has worked in the field of agricultural water management at Punjab Agricultural University. Dr Kukal has more than 350 research publications to his credit including 150 peer-reviewed research papers in journals of international and national repute. He served as Professor of Soil Conservation, Additional Director of Research and Dean, Faculty of Agriculture (till August 2020) at Punjab Agricultural University. Dr Kukal has several awards and honours to his credit, the most prestigious being Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS); Fellow, Indian Society of Soil Science; Dr GS Khush Distinguished Professor Award; Honorary Member of Watershed Management Society of Iran; 12th International Congress Commemoration Award of Indian Society of Soil Science. Dr Kukal has been a Visiting Scientist at CSIRO, Australia, apart from delivering lead lectures at various platforms in countries like, USA, Australia, China, Thailand, Serbia, Singapore and Pakistan. He is Associate Editor-in-Chief of International Soil and Water Conservation Research.
Job Titles:
- Technical Manager ( Groundwater )
Sri Sushil Gupta is former Chairman , Central Ground Water Board and Central Ground Water Authority having more than 45 years of experience in various kinds of studies pertaining to exploration, development, management, and regulation of ground water. Sri Gupta has several scientific papers and reports to his credit and has supervised innumerable field studies throughout his career and has represented India at various international platforms in connection with various groundwater programs.
He was also associated with World Bank as a Program Development Specialist for formulation of National Groundwater Management Improvement Program (now Atal Bhujal Yojana). He is credited with several contributions to the society in terms of identification of safe aquifers for supply of groundwater for drinking water and other uses, the most notable being in trans-Yamuna areas of Delhi during the outbreak of gastroenteritis in 1988.
He is also Member of National Level Expert Committee of Ministry of Jal Shakti to review the Aquifer Maps & Management Plans as well as Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Sri Gupta has the distinction of being President, Indian National Chapter of International Association of Hydrogeologists'; Vice President, Indian Water Resources Society; Life Member, Indian Association of Hydrologists' and was felicitated as Illustrious Alumni of Lucknow University, Lucknow in 2013.