The main points of the joint research project were the following:

• General Topic: Urban Hydrology - Ground Water Management and Ground Water Protection.
• Specific Topic: Sustainable Ground Water Management and Ground Water protection in the R.R. District of Hyderabad.
• Duration: One year (May 2000-April 2001).
  
• Subject: The shortage of ground water in the R.R. District owing to pollution of this resource as well as to its depletion. Pollution is created by industry (for example chemical, textiles and other industries), settlement and agriculture. The reasons for the low yield of ground water will be evaluated and assessed. The conflict of interests involving water management, industry and agriculture will be examined.
  
• Workplan: Starting from May 2000, contacts between the experts in Hyderabad and Vienna were intensified. To obtain an up-to-date presentation of the geological/hydrological situation, and to point out spatially groundwater contamination and the course of the contamination flux, elevation data of the project area were ordered from MapWorld in Hyderabad for the Arsenal's computer programme. Since there are land users involved in different activities distributed all over the area of Patancheru, the inclusion of satellite images in the elevation model was considered very useful.
  The Austrian team visited Hyderabad in August 2000 to intensify contacts with the local experts and institutions, and to encourage MapWorld to release the DEM/DTM data. During this period, a visit to the investigation area of Patancheru, 30 km north-west of Hyderabad (including Bolaram and Chitkul), was organized. The hydrogeological basement of the investigation area consists of granites, covered with a more or less thick weathering zone. The average rainfall in this area is about 800 to 900 mm/year. The hydrogeological framework consists of a complex heterogeneous aquifer system with different layers of mostly gravel and sand, but in part also containing silt and clay.
  In September 2000, the DEM/DTM data arrived in Vienna and the first graphics were made.
  
• Future action plan: In the next few months, the following actions will be considered:
  - analyses of samples from ground and surface water in the catchment of Nakka Vagu river of the Patancheru area;
  - analyses of remote sensing data (satellite images);
  - evaluation of hydrological data;
  - comparison and evaluation of the hydrochemical data originating from various labs
  - assessment of contamination;
  - assessments of groundwater dynamics;
  - discussion of integrated water protection strategy;
  - creation of multimedia supports, including the main data of the joint research project;
  - organisation in Hyderabad of a round table with the participation of experts involved and stakeholder representatives;
  - official presentation in Hyderabad of the results of the joint research project including recommendations for future actions.
• Evaluation and visual presentation: Appropriate graphics and multimedia materials have been prepared to present the results of the pilot project.