ABOUT ASSOCIATION OF HYDROLOGISTS
OF INDIA (AHI)

Dept. of Geophysics, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530 003, India.

AIMS AND ACTIVITIES

Aims:

The aims and objectives of the Association of Hydrologists of India are

• To promote the cause of advanced study and research and to effect coordination of research and investigations in all disciplines related to hydrology.
• To promote exchange of ideas amongst the hydrologists belonging to various facets like geohydrology, geology, geophysics, hydrometeorology, environment, engineering, water management etc.
• To promote discussion meets, conferences, seminars, symposia, annual lecture programmes, etc.
• To strengthen the level of hydrological instruction and facilitate preparation and publication of teaching and training aids in disciplines related to hydrology.
• To encourage research activities and disseminate information in hydrology and related disciplines by publishing research bulletins, journals, memories, and monographs etc.
• To institute prizes, medals etc., honour scientists for their outstanding contributions to any branch of hydrology or a related discipline and to encourage scientists in their pursuits in these disciplines.
• To cooperate in appropriate ways with other groups and associations having similar objectives.

Activities:

Seminars and conferences

Till now 34 Seminars were organized in different parts of India and neighbourhood on various topics of contemporary importance and/or regional relevance. Special topics like water logging, national grid of rivers, urban water supply, environmental problems and water resources, hydrology of Himalayan region, hard rock hydrogeology were discussed at special colloquia. To comply with its social obligation to the rural and under exposed areas, AHI has conducted some of its seminars in remote areas like Bhorugram in Rajasthan.

Out of these seminars, five of them are international seminars conducted in India and Nepal.

8th IAHS Scientific Assembly and 37th IAH CongressThe long standing efforts of AHI has culminated in successfully inviting International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) to organize a joint International Convention of 8th IAHS Scientific Assembly and 37th IAH Congress with a theme on Water: A Vital resource under stress- How Science can help at National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad, India during 6-12 September, 2009.

Training Courses

In pursuance of its objectives of strengthening level of hydrological instructions, the AHI has organized many training courses, out of which the following four were organised as international training programmes.

• During December 10, 1989 to February 17, 1990 a training course on
  "Theory and Practice of surface and subsurface Geophysical techniques for ground water prospecting" and "Ground water in coastal areas and Hydrogeological Documentation" was organized with the financial assistance of Danish International Development Authority (DANIDA).
• A course on "Pollution in Urban Environments" was held during 30th May ­ 13th June, 1991. The course content was drawn in accordance with UNESCO guidelines.
• A workshop on "Watershed Development" was conducted during May 22-June 10, 2000.
• An international training programme, on "Introduction to Groundwater Flow and Transport Modelling using Modflow, Modpath, MT3DMS and Seawat with model analysis using PEST and UCODE, instructed by Mary C.Hill, Alyssa Dausman and Gurunadha Rao. Sept. 1-5, 2009, NGRI, Hyderabad, India.

International Collaboration

The AHI has established a number of bilateral relationships with the British Hydrological Society, the United States Geological Survey, Nepal Geological Society and International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS). It has also received financial assistance from international agencies like Swedish Development Authorities, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (INCIMOD), Danish Development Authority, UNESCO, WMO, Association of Geologists for International Development (AGID), The Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), etc., for the conduct of its four international seminars held in Visakhapatnam during 1988, Katmandu during1993, Visakhapatnam during 1997 and Visakhapatnam during 2003.

The AHI is an accredited member of United Nations Committee on Environment and Development (UNCED).

Journal of Applied Hydrology

In pursuance of the objective of dissemination of research findings, the AHI has published the seminar proceedings of the first three seminars. To make the papers more enduring and to have a wider circulation among the discriminating scientists, the Journal of Applied Hydrology was started in October 1988. The editorial board and the editorial advisory board constitute experts in the diverse fields of hydrology drawn from various organizations from India and abroad. The Journal of Applied Hydrology is received by the scientific fraternity with a sense of appreciation. The Journal of Applied Hydrology is published quarterly. The members will get a soft copy free of cost.

Training and Awareness Camps

Preparation of Handbook on Management of Seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers“

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND STATUS WITH THE COUNTRY

The activities of the association are carried out by an executive body consisting of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer and Executive Members not exceeding 14. The Association has approved bylaws and is registered as a scientific society.

DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT AND BREIF HISTORY

Date of establishmentThe Association was established on 30th April, 1982 and was registered in the Registrar office, Visakhapatnam District as a scientific society No: 147 of 1982 under "Registration of Societies Act XXI of 1860" of Govt. of India

Brief history

The Association of Hydrologists of India was born in September 1981 in the Department of Geophysics, Andhra University, and Visakhapatnam with representatives of faculties of Geophysics, Geology, Meteorology & Oceanography, Geography and Civil Engineering along with representatives from the Department of Ground Water, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The AHI started with the objective of providing a common platform to scientists working in various aspects of hydrology like engineering, meteorology, geophysics, geology and remote sensing for exchange of ideas and concepts. To achieve the objective it was decided to organize national seminars every year at different locations in the country. It was also decided to conduct the seminar into two parts the first dedicated to the entire hydrological field and the other dedicated to a pressing local or national hydrological problem.

The AHI has the good fortune of having Padmasri Prof. Dr. Harinarayan, a long term director of National Geophysical Research Institute and also a former Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University as well as a former Surveyor General of India as its first President. It was also fortunate that Padmabhushan Prof. Dr. P. Koteswaram was the first Vice-President of AHI and a long time President of the AHI. Prof. Koteswaram was not only a Padmabhushan awardee but also a reputed and internationally known meteorologist and a former Director General of India Meteorological Department. He continued to be the President and actively participated in all its activities till his last.

The Association apart from organising number of seminars, workshops, training programmes, awareness camps, etc also works with international associations and agencies to promote hydrological sciences both in India and abroad.

Apart from its links with USGS, BHS, UNCED, DANIDA, AGID, etc. from the international perspectives, its active association with IAHS has provided a quantum jump in its activities and collaborations.

ORGANISATION STRUCTURE MEMBERSHIP

The association has the system of enrolling members of different categories like Life Members, honorary members, etc. Total membership as on 22th January, 2015 stood at 800, out of which 490 are life members.

Local Chapters: The Association, in a bid to develop strong and focused centers in different parts of the country, have established two regional chapters, one in Solapur and the other in Vadodara.

Solapur Chapter: The Solapur Chapter of AHI was initiated during the 18th AHI Convention at Solapur and was inaugurated during July 2000 at Solapur. Dr. S.K. Vadagbalkar is the Convener of this Chapter.

Gujarat Chapter: The Gujarat Chapter of AHI was inaugurated on 21st January, 2009 during the XXVII AHI Convention at Samiala, Vadodara. Dr. D.T. Shete is the Convener of this Chapter.

SOURCE OF FINANCING

The association thrives on the funds received from Government and other Institutions mostly from India for organising the seminars and symposia. In addition the journal subscriptions and the annual grant provided by the Andhra University for printing the journal take care of the expenses of the association to a reasonable extent.