Dr. Basant Yadav

 

Brief Details:

Dr. Basant Yadav is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Water Resources Development and Management at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee. He received his Ph.D. from IIT Delhi and his M.Tech. in Hydrology from IIT Roorkee. Following his Ph.D., he held research positions at IIT Roorkee, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, and Cranfield University (UK), where he worked on managed aquifer recharge (MAR) strategies and their impact on groundwater resources. Dr. Yadav’s research integrates experimental, numerical, and data-driven modeling approaches to address challenges in groundwater management and the transport of contaminants in both saturated and unsaturated zones. He has completed and is currently working on several sponsored research projects in the area of groundwater management, funded by prominent agencies such as SERB, ISRO, ASEAN-India, the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), and NERC (UK). He has authored over 35 peer-reviewed journal publications, 3 books, several book chapters, and presented his work at numerous reputed national and international conferences. He has also developed a state-of-the-art Soil and Water Quality Labs under CSR support, benefiting both academics, industries, rural and urban communities. He has supervised one Ph.D. and 16 master’s students and is currently guiding nine Ph.D. and six M.Tech. scholars. In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Yadav has received several prestigious awards, including the Rien van Genuchten Early-Career Award from the International Society for Porous Media (InterPore) and the 2024 Eminent Engineer Award (<45 years) by the Uttarakhand State Centre, The Institution of Engineers (India). He also serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Hydrology and is an active contributor to peer-reviewed academic publishing.

Multiscale Monitoring, Modelling, Management and Recharge Risk Assessment of Contaminants in Surface–Groundwater Systems

This presentation showcases a holistic and interdisciplinary research framework for multiscale monitoring, modelling, and management of contaminants in surface groundwater systems, with a focus on semi-arid and agro-industrial regions of India. The study integrates field investigations, hydrogeochemical analyses, municipal wastewater characterization, laboratory-scale contaminant transport experiments, and advanced simulation techniques to address the growing challenges of groundwater depletion, quality degradation, and ineffective recharge practices. Extensive field campaigns revealed contrasting hydrogeological zones where upstream rock water interactions dominate, and downstream water quality is significantly influenced by anthropogenic activities, particularly nitrate, chloride, and cadmium contamination. Controlled batch and column experiments, supported by HYDRUS-1D/2D modelling, demonstrated the vertical mobility of contaminants under managed aquifer recharge (MAR), stressing the importance of site-specific recharge protocols to prevent groundwater pollution. Treated wastewater holds significant resource potential as an alternative water source, while its retention of macronutrients in soils further enhances its value as a substitute for chemical fertilizers. The nutrient retention capacity of lentic small water bodies (LSWBs) was assessed, revealing how soil texture, land-use dynamics, and landscape position influence their buffering potential. Predictive machine learning models such as LSTM and Random Forest (R² > 0.85) were employed for forecasting water quality trends, while a patented IoT-enabled smart monitoring system was developed for real-time contaminant tracking and early warning in rural water supply schemes. To support evidence-based planning, a geospatial decision-support tool PRAJAL-G-MCDA was designed to identify MAR suitability zones by integrating satellite data, field parameters, and socio-environmental indicators. These tools have been validated and deployed in diverse hydrological settings, bridging the gap between research and field implementation. Overall, this research contributes a robust, scalable, and replicable framework for sustainable groundwater recharge, contaminant risk reduction, and water quality protection. It directly informs decentralised water governance, strengthens climate resilience, and enhances public health outcomes aligning with national missions such as Jal Jeevan Mission, National Mission for Clean Ganga and global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Google Scholar Link:

https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=jhSd4hsAAAAJ&hl=en