Dear All,

We would like to notify you about the Ph.D. defence viva of Mr. Gokul Prasad, scheduled to be held at the below date:

Date: 6 May 2026
Time: 11.00 am IST, 3.30 pm AEST

Venue: C-TARA Conference Room 1

Zoom Link:

https://monash.zoom.us/j/89986271182?pwd=zMrwGfKU02ZrkLkJ8h3tMf01do39X0.1 

Or, go to https://monash.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 899 8627 1182 and passcode: 098307

List of examiners for the viva are:

External Examiner: Dr. Shrinivas Badiger

Chairperson: Prof. Eldho T

Internal Examiner: Prof. B. Sivakumar

Supervisors: Prof. Pennan Chinnasamy, Prof. Ian Cartwright

Thesis title: Understanding Groundwater Depletion Scenario for Rural Areas: Using Isotopes and Modeling: Case Study of Upper Godavari Catchment, Maharashtra, India

Abstract:

India is the largest groundwater extractor and currently faces severe agricultural demand and climate stress, leading to depletion. The current study presents an integrated approach using environmental isotopes of water, including tritium, hydrogeochemistry, and hydrological modeling to identify recharge mechanisms, conceptualize aquifer behavior, and assess groundwater sustainability in the Upper Godavari Catchment, India's second-largest river, situated on Deccan basalt. Results indicate monsoon-dominated recharge, rapid fracture-mediated flow in shallow basalt aquifers, and slower long-term flow in deeper systems. Tritium confirms substantial modern recharge, while geochemistry identifies natural and anthropogenic influences. Hydrological modeling results indicate a negative groundwater balance, underscoring the vulnerability of aquifers and the urgent need for sustainable groundwater management in hard-rock regions. This methodology provides a transferable scientific knowledge for sustainable groundwater management in hard-rock aquifers worldwide.