Er. M. Gopalakrishnan (born 28.1.1943) holds Master of Engineering (Honours) in Water Resources Development from University of Roorkee (now, IIT-R). His remarkable academic performance yielded him both Khosla Gold Medal and University Gold Medal for the top position in both P.G.Dip (Hons) and M.E levels with record breaking scores. He entered the Central Water Engineering Services as the topper of his batch (1966) in the then Central Water & Power Commission. He retired on 31 January 2003 as a Member, Central Water Commission (CWC). Er. Gopalakrishnan served as the Coordinator of Government of India`s multi-disciplinary High Level Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers in 2003 and helped formulating two Action Plans on Interlinking of Rivers that were submitted as per the ToR set for the Task Force by the Government of India. With over four and a half decades of rich experience in the field of Water Resources Development and Management in India and abroad Er. Gopalakrishnan continues to serve his profession in many forms.
Er. Gopalakrishnan served as one of the Governors of the World Water Council during 2003-06. He is a member of Technical Advisory Committee of UNESCO which brings out World Water Development Reports once in three years, with the last one WWDR 3, released in March 2009 during the World Water Forum 5. Er. Gopalakrishnan serves as a member of the Committee constituted by the Indian Ministry of Water Resources on "National Mission on Water" and is also a member in the sub committee on surface water under the main committee.
Er. Gopalakrishnan holds several distinguished honorary positions like the President, Indian Water Resources Society (since 2004), President of the New Delhi Associate Centre of World Water Council (since 2006), Co-Chairman of the Institution of Engineers (India)`s Special Committee on Interlinking of Indian Rivers (since 2005). He is a Life Member of several leading Indian Professional Bodies like IWRS, IAH, ISET, IGS. Er. Gopalakrishnan was also inducted as a fellow in the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) acknowledging his significant contribution to the profession.
A member of several Expert Committees constituted to advise on hydro projects in Himalayas by developers, both public and private, (he was the Chairman of the Group in three cases) he guides Water Sector in India remarkably. Er. Gopalakrishnan is the Chairman of the Dams and Seismicity Committee of Indian National Committee on Large Dams for over a decade and represents the country in the ICOLD Committee on the subject.
Er. Gopalakrishnan has been associated with Global Water Partnership (GWP) bridging the interests of ICID and GWP. He had also been closely associated with World Water Council as one of the Governors (2004-06) by contributing on legal and financial matters.
He has published about hundred papers (or other contributions) touching upon many water related issues, design aspects and policies, in Seminars, Workshops, Congresses, journals and other publications.
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