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24 March 2025 (Monday) at 15:00-16:30 Hours (IST)
Punjab, the backbone of India’s food security, is grappling with a severe water crisis. Over 73% of the state’s irrigation relies on tubewells, leading to excessive groundwater extraction, with more than 100 blocks categorized as overexploited. Surface water availability has declined drastically from 34.34 MAF (1921-1960) to 28.26 MAF (1981-2013), exacerbating the challenge. Underground Pipeline (UGPL) Irrigation Systems offer a transformative solution to these issues by reducing water wastage, improving equitable distribution, and enhancing agricultural productivity. Studies show that UGPL systems reduce water losses by 17.9%, with significant adoption covering 448,000 hectares across key districts like Faridkot, Bathinda, and Sangrur. In the Western Zone, farmers using UGPL systems saved up to 23 borewell irrigations per season, alleviating pressure on groundwater.
Despite these benefits, challenges remain. Limited financial allocations, delays in subsidy disbursements, weak coordination between the Irrigation and Soil and Water Conservation Departments, and inadequate maintenance by Water User Committees (WUCs) are significant barriers to scaling up. To address these issues, it is recommended to increase funding by ?500 crore annually, expand UGPL coverage by 100,000 hectares per year, digitize subsidy processes, strengthen WUC capacities, and align UGPL expansion with broader climate adaptation and water management goals. A phased roadmap is proposed: in the short term, digitize project data, audit systems, and expand coverage by 50,000 hectares annually; in the medium term, cover an additional 300,000 hectares and integrate precision irrigation technologies; and in the long term, aim for 80% canal command area coverage by 2030 and embed UGPL in conjunctive water use strategies.
The success of UGPL systems in Punjab offers a scalable model for irrigation systems worldwide, especially in regions facing water scarcity, inefficient irrigation, and over-reliance on groundwater. By adapting the UGPL framework to local contexts, countries can address similar challenges in agriculture. Key enablers for global scalability include robust policy frameworks, financial incentives for adoption, public-private partnerships to leverage technology, and capacity-building programs to empower water-user groups. When integrated with advanced tools like precision irrigation and climate-resilient practices, UGPL systems can significantly reduce water wastage, improve agricultural yields, and enhance resilience to climate change, making them a universal solution for sustainable water management. This study has been carried with the support of The Nature Conservancy as a part of Promoting Regenerative and No-burn Agriculture (PRANA).
PRESENTATION
Opening Remarks: Dr. R.K. Gupta, Secretary General, ICID
Dr. R.K. Gupta has more than 38 years of extensive experience and specialization in Water Resources Management, Hydraulic Engineering, and River Basin Development. His expertise spans various areas like flood management, water cooperation, planning & design of water resources schemes, including Dam Safety Management. Additionally, he has significant experience in Hydropower Development, including the design and construction of tunnels and other underground works.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from Delhi College of Engineering, a Master of Technology in Applied Mechanics from IIT Delhi, and both an M.Sc. and PhD in Hydraulics from IHE, Netherlands. Dr. Gupta began his career at the Central Water Commission (CWC), a premier Indian government organization in the water sector, and eventually served as its Chairman, a position equivalent to the Secretary to the Government of India. His extensive experience and academic credentials have established him as a highly respected figure in the Indian water resources management domain.
SPEAKERS
Mr. Paavan Kumar Reddy Gollapalli (India) Secretary, WG-SCER, ICID
Paavan Kumar Reddy Gollapalli is a seasoned professional specializing in water stewardship, regenerative agriculture and climate-smart agriculture, and rural livelihoods. He holds a B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering from Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Remote Sensing & GIS from IIRS-ISRO.
Over the years, Paavan has worked across multiple geographies in India with non-profits, research institutes, and corporates such as ITC Ltd., Amazon Web Services, and East West Seed. He has applied data-driven approaches to identify needs and design programs by engaging multiple stakeholders and facilitating resource convergence. Recently, he managed a $2M regenerative agriculture program, leading a 160-member team and enabling 120,000 farmers to adopt climate-smart practices, with 58,000 acres transitioning from crop residue burning to incorporation. At ITC Limited, he led agriculture and watershed portfolios across Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh states, covering 600 villages and engaging 18,000 farmers in sustainable practices. His expertise in water management and irrigation efficiency was further strengthened at WALAMTARI, where he conducted benchmarking studies of ten medium irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. During his stint at WALAMTARI, he developed an open-source canal network digitization toolkit, which has been adopted by ICID for its Dam Safety Course.
Paavan has been actively engaged with the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) since 2016 as a Young Professional, progressing to Secretary of the Working Group on Sustainable Development of Tidal Areas (WG-SDTA) in 2021 and later assuming the role of Secretary of the Working Group on Sustainable Coastal Environment Regeneration (WG-SCER) in 2023. He has delivered multiple webinars on the ICID platform, sharing insights on conservation agriculture, geospatial tools for canal network digitization, and sustainable water management strategies. His contributions have been recognized globally, earning him the ICID Young Professional Scholarship (Mexico, 2017) and participation in the ICID Young Professional Training (South Korea, 2019). His ability to bridge research, policy, and field implementation continues to drive meaningful impact in agriculture and water management sectors.
Dr. Gurwinder Singh Dhillon
Dr. Gurbinder Singh Dhillon is discharging his responsibilities as Divisional Soil Conservation Officer at Department of Soil and Water Conservation in the State of Punjab, India and has been working in water resource sector since last 23 years. The department’s he is working in lays prime focus on conservation and management of water resources given the immense stress on this resource in the state. His present responsibilities involve Planning, Designing and Execution of Water Conservation and Management programmes in state of Punjab, with emphasis on enhancing irrigation water use efficiency and developing alternate irrigation water sources to reduce dependence on potable water use in agriculture and given the fact that agriculture sector consumes approximately 94% of state’s water resources. He has been instrumental in initiating several new programmes related to water resource conservation in the state major among those are programme for utilization of treated water through underground pipelines in agriculture sector, programme for use of solar energy with micro irrigation systems and more recently programme for reclamation of waterlogged lands in south-western Punjab using latest techniques. Besides he specializes in policy making and enhancing use of information technology, remote sensing and GIS in day to day procedures of the department. He has represented country and state in various programmes related to water conservation and management at national and international level.
PANELISTS
Dr. Camilla Simongini (FAO)
As an engineer by training, I work as a Water Management Specialist at the Land and Water Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The focus of my work includes various aspects of agricultural water management, such as the development of decision-support systems for irrigation development and management, performance assessment of irrigation systems, water technologies in small-scale agriculture, and adaptation to climate-related disasters in the agriculture sector. My work covers global and country-level applications.
Ms. Alexia Michels (ADB)
Alexia Michels currently occupies the position of Senior Water Resources Specialist in ADB, within the Agriculture Food Nature and Rural Development (AFNR) sector. She has been posted in India since September 2024 where she ensures the role of Focal for the AFNR sector. She is leading projects in irrigation, rivers flood management and coastal resilience in India.
With over 20 years of experience in the water sector she has worked on all segments of the water cycle for urban and rural communities. He career has led her to work in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, with various organizations including ADB, Suez, consulting companies and non-profit organizations.
Dr. Vikas Goyal (ADB)
Mr. Vikas Goyal is currently working in the Agriculture, Forest, Nature, and Rural Development (AFNR) Sector Group of Asian Development Bank (ADB), India Resident Mission, New Delhi.
He has over 28 years of experience in Integrated Water Management. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, specializing in water resources engineering. Throughout his career, he has worked on major projects funded by organizations such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), JICA and the central and state governments. These projects have spanned in more than 15 Indian states and extended internationally to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
His wide-ranging experience includes strategy building, project conceptualization, investment design, risk assessment, climate financing and disaster resilience, PPP; economic assessment; innovations and digital technology, project implementation and management, policy development, knowledge management.
He is currently leading projects in India namely, Madhya Pradesh Irrigation Efficiency Improvement Project (MPIEIP) (Kundalia Irrigation Project), Climate-Adaptative Community-Based Water Harvesting Project in Meghalaya and assisting ADB Mission Leaders in several technical assistance and investment projects in Indian states.
Dr. Mohammad Faiz Alam (IWMI)
Dr. Mohammad Faiz Alam is a researcher at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), based in Delhi, India. He specializes in hydrology, groundwater, and agricultural water management, bringing over a decade of research experience. His work focuses on enhancing water and food security through the sustainable development of water resources and the adoption of resilient irrigation practices. Dr. Alam collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders—including farmers, research partners, donors, government agencies, and policymakers—to bridge the gap between research and actionable solutions. He holds doctorate from TU Delft, Netherlands, master’s degree in environmental engineering from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, and bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India.
MODERATORS
Eng. M.D. Janaka Priyantha Wickramasooriya (Sri Lanka)
Eng. M.D. Janaka Priyantha Wickramasooriya is a highly accomplished Civil and Geotechnical Engineer with extensive academic and professional credentials. He holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering (2013) from the University of Moratuwa, an M.Sc. in Geotechnical Engineering (2021) from the University of Peradeniya, and is pursuing an M.Phil. focusing on nature-based riverbank protection solutions.
Professionally, he is a Chartered Engineer and member of prestigious institutions such as Engineers Australia, the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka, and international geotechnical societies. He has contributed to key projects in dam rehabilitation, geotechnical investigations, and water management, notably in Sri Lanka’s irrigation sector. His expertise includes foundation treatments, geophysical surveys, and structural designs adhering to international standards.
His accolades include awards for technical presentations and achievements in engineering competitions. Additionally, he has authored numerous technical publications and creative articles, contributing significantly to engineering and public knowledge.
Beyond his engineering roles, he has served as a visiting lecturer and instructor at esteemed institutions. His professional affiliations, awards, and contributions underscore his leadership in advancing engineering practices and education in Sri Lanka.
Eng. Dhamson P. Masundang (Malaysia)
Dhamson Polus Masundang is a civil engineer currently serving in the Agriculture Irrigation and Drainage Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Malaysia. He manages and oversees the agriculture infrastructure GIS mapping apart from managing the government allocations irrigation and drainage infrastructure maintenance, facilitates the establishment of Water User Groups for farmers, and conducts training programs. Previously, he works in private sector with experience in quality control, structural design, and production engineering. He is also actively involved in professional forums, serving as the President of the Young Professional Forum (YPF) for Malaysian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (MANCID).
