Our National Water Policy recommends that resource planning in the case of water has to be done for a hydrological unit such as a basin or sub-basin. This means that all developmental projects in a basin should be formulated within the framework of an overall plan for a basin/sub-basin. The National Water Policy further lays down that there should be an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to the planning, formulation, clearance and implementation of projects, including catchment and management, environmental and ecological aspects, rehabilitation of affected people and command area development. Such an integrated, multidisciplinary and basin-wise approach to river basin planning and management requires the establishment of an appropriate organization at the river basin level for ensuring optimum, all round and balanced development of the water resources of a river basin.
River basin organizations envisaged above said function as a planning, co-ordination and management organization for the basin. It will combine various disciplines related to water resources development, drawing expertise from these disciplines in order to achieve optimal and integrated development of the water resources of the basin. It shall be charged with the authority for storage apportionment, regulation and control at various points in the river basin, publishing statistics or other information relating to various aspects of the regulation and development of the inter-state rivers and undertaking investigations, surveys etc. as found necessary.
The Government, as early as 1956, had enacted the River Boards Act, recognizing the necessity of some organization for the control and regulation of interstate river basins. The Act authorizes the Union Government to establish River Boards, on a request received in this behalf from a State Government or otherwise, for advising the Government bodies interested in relation to such matters concerning the regulation or development of an interstate river or river valley or any specified part thereof and for performing such other functions as may be specified in the notification.
So far, no effective river basin authority or organization has been established in the country for the integrated and optimum development of the water resources of basins. However, over the years since independence, a number of basin organizations have been created for limited purposes such as speedy implementation of master plans for specific purposes. An overview of the existing organizations is given below.