1932 - 2023 Padma Shri Dr Zal Sohrab Tarapore, 91, passed away peacefully at his residence in Pune on Friday 10 November 2023. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.He was former Director of Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, India. He was also the founder
member of Indian Society for Hydraulics (ISH).
Dr Tarapore graduated in Civil Engineering from the University of Edinburgh UK and obtained a Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota, USA. He joined CWPRS in 1963. He was involved in modeling studies related to almost all major and minor ports spread over the vast coastline of India. Any port infrastructure development ranging from India’s west coast to east coast or from Kandla to Kolkata, Brahmaputra as well as from north to south running from Ganga-Indus to Kaveri had his significant contribution. There were hardly any studies pertaining to water resources, power, surface transport completed without his strong involvement. During his tenure, the UN recognized CWPRS as a Regional Laboratory for ESCAP area. This facilitated procurement of the latest equipment for field data collection, as well as education and training of research personnel in world’s best universities. He set up the Mathematical Modelling Centre to take advantage of the then emerging developments in computer-oriented modeling.
Dr Tarapore served as Chief Technical Advisor for the UNDP Project for Strengthening Water Resources in Iran, advisor to National Water Resources Council, Ethiopia, consultant to Institute of Hydraulic Research, Hanoi, as well as similar Institutes located in various other parts of the world including Iraq, Philippines.
He served on advisory boards of several organizations like Dredging Corporation of India, DHI, ZEBEC. His contribution in water resources spans over for more than six decades. The number of projects in which he made his mark as well as the range of problems he handled is really very large. His research works have been reported in many peer-reviewed papers, conference proceedings and technical reports.
Dr Tarapore was Recipient of CBIP Diamond Jubilee Award (1988), Padma Shri (1992), ISH Lifetime Achievement award (2008).
ISH expresses deep grief and sorrow for the loss of Padma Shri Dr Zal Sohrab Tarapore.