#THE RIVER BOARDS ACT, 1956 
_______ 

##ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
________ 

SECTIONS 

###CHAPTER I 

###PRELIMINARY 

1. Short title and commencement. 
2. Declaration as to expediency of control by Central Government. 
3. Definitions. 

###CHAPTER II 

###ESTABLISHMENT OF RIVER BOARDS 

4. Establishment of Boards. 
5. Composition of Board. 
6. Terms and conditions of service of members. 
7. Temporary absence of any member. 
8. Meetings of Board. 
9. Vacancy in Board, etc., not to invalidate acts or proceedings. 
10. Appointment of advisory committee. 
11. Temporary association of persons with Board for particular purposes. 
12. Staff of Board. 

###CHAPTER III 

###POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD 

13. Matters in respect of which a Board may be authorised to tender advice. 
14. Functions of Board. 
15. Preparation of schemes by Board and their execution. 
16. General Powers of Board. 
17. Payment to Board. 
18. Fund of Board. 
19. Budget. 
20. Annual report. 
21. Accounts and audit. 
22. Arbitration. 
23. Returns and reports. 
24. Delegation of powers. 

###CHAPTER IV 

###MISCELLANEOUS 

25. Members and officers of Board to be public servants. 
26. Protection of action taken in good faith. 
27. Dissolution of Board and transfer of assets and liabilities. 
28. Power to make rules. 
29. Power to make regulations. 



#THE RIVER BOARDS ACT, 1956 

##ACT NO. 49 OF 1956 

[12th September, 1956.] 

An Act to provide for the establishment of River Boards for the regulation and development of 
inter-State rivers and river valleys. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

##CHAPTER I 

###PRELIMINARY 

1. **Short title and commencement.**—(1) This Act may be called the River Boards Act, 1956. 

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the 
Official Gazette, appoint. 

2. **Declaration as to expediency of control by Central Government.**—It is hereby declared that it is 
expedient in the public interest that the Central Government should take under its control the regulation 
and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys, to the extent hereinafter provided. 

3. **Definitions.**—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 

  (a) “Board” means a River Board establishment under section 4; 

  (b) “Governments  interested”,  in  relation  to  a  Board,  means  the  Governments  of  those  States 
which,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Central  Government,  are  likely  to  be  interested  in,  or  affected  by,  the 
functions of the Board under this Act; 

  (c) “member” means a member of a Board and includes its Chairman; 

  (d) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act. 

##CHAPTER II 

###ESTABLISHMENT OF RIVER BOARDS 

4. **Establishment of Boards.**—(1) The Central Government may, on a request received in this behalf 
from a State Government or otherwise, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a River Board for 
advising the Governments interested in relation  to such matters concerning the regulation or development 
of an inter-State river or river valley or any specified  part thereof and for performing such other functions 
as may be specified in the notification, and different Boards may be established for different inter-State 
rivers or river valleys: 

  Provided that no such notification shall be except after consultation with the Governments interested 
with respect to the proposal to establish the Board, the persons to be appointed as members thereof and 
the functions which the Board may be empowered to perform. 

(2) A  Board  may  be  established  under  such  name  as  may  be  specified  in  the  notification  under 
sub-section (1). 

(3) Every Board so established shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common 
seal, and shall by the said name sue and be sued. 

(4) Every Board shall exercise its jurisdiction within such limits of the river (including its tributaries, 
if  any)  or  river  valley   as  may  be  specified  in  the  notification  under  sub-section  (1)  and  the  area  so 
specified shall be called the area of operation of the Board. 

5. **Composition of Board.**—(1) The Board shall consist of a Chairman and such other members as 
the Central Government thinks fit to appoint. 

(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a member unless, in the opinion of the Central 
Government, he has special knowledge and experience in irrigation, electrical engineering flood control, 
navigation, water conservation, soil conservation administration or finance. 

6. **Terms and conditions of service of members.**—(1) A member shall, unless his appointment is 
terminated earlier by the Central Government, hold office for such period as may be notified in this behalf 
by the Central Government in the Official Gazette, and shall, on the expiry of the term of his office be 
eligible for re-appointment. 

(2) A member may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Central Government, 
but he shall continue in office until the appointment of his successor is notified in the Official Gazette. 

(3) A casual vacancy created by the resignation of a member under sub-section (2) or for any other 
reason shall be filled by fresh appointment. 

(4) A  member  may  be  appointed  either  as  a  whole-time  or  part-time  member  as  the  Central 
Government thinks fit. 

(5) The terms and conditions of service of the Chairman and other members shall be such as may be 
prescribed. 

7. **Temporary absence of any member.**—If  any  member  is  by  infirmity  or  otherwise  rendered 
temporarily incapable of carrying out  his duties or is absent on leave or otherwise in circumstances not 
involving the vacation of his appointment, the Central Government may appoint another person to act in 
his place. 

8. **Meetings of Board.**—The Board shall meet at such times and places and shall observe such rules 
of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings as may be  provided by regulations 
made under this Act. 

9. **Vacancy in Board, etc., not to invalidate acts or proceedings.**—No act or  proceeding  of  the 
Board shall be deemed to be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy in the Board or any 
defect in the appointment of a member thereof. 

10. **Appointment of advisory committee.**—The Board may, from time to time, appoint one or more 
advisory committee or committees for the purpose of enabling it to carry out of its functions under this 
Act. 

11. **Temporary association of persons with Board for particular purposes.**—(1) The Board may 
associate  with  itself  in  such  manner  and  for  such  purposes  as  may  be  determined  by  regulations  made 
under  this  Act  any  person  whose  assistance  or  advice  it  may  desire  in  performing  any  of  its  functions 
under this Act. 

(2) A person  associated  with  the  Board  under  sub-section  (1) for  any  purpose  shall  have  a  right  to 
take part in the discussions of the Board relevant to that purpose, but shall not have a right to vote at a 
meeting of the Board, and shall not be a member for any other purpose. 

12. **Staff of Board.**—Subject  to  such  rules  as  may  by  the  Central  Government  in  this  behalf,  the 
Board may, for the purpose of enabling it to efficiently perform its functions or exercise its powers under 
this Act,  appoint such officers as it may think fit and determine their functions and terms and conditions 
of service. 

##CHAPTER III 

###POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD 

13. **Matters in respect of which a Board may be authorised to tender advice.**—A Board may be 
empowered  under  sub-section  (1)  of  section  14  to  perform  all  or  any  of  the  following  functions, 
namely:— 

  (a) advising the Governments interested on any matter concerning the regulation or development 
of any specified inter-State river or river valley within its area of operation and in particular, advising 
them in relation to the co-ordination of their activities with a view to resolve conflicts among them 
and to achieve maximum results in respect of the measures undertaken by them in the inter-State river 
or river valley for the purpose of— 

     (i) conservation, control and optimum utilisation of water resources of the inter-State river; 

     (ii) promotion and operation of schemes for irrigation, water supply or drainage; 

     (iii) promotion and operation of schemes for the development of hydro-electric power; 

     (iv) promotion and operation of schemes for flood control; 

     (v) promotion and control of navigation; 

     (vi) promotion of afforestation and control of soil erosion; 

     (vii) prevention of pollution of the waters of the inter-State river; 

     (viii) such other matters as may be prescribed; 

  (b) preparing  schemes,  including  multi-purpose  schemes,  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  or 
developing the inter-State river or river valley  and advising the Governments interested to undertake 
measures for executing the scheme prepared by the Board; 

  (c) allocating among the Governments interested the costs of executing any scheme prepared by 
the Board and of  works undertaken in the execution of the scheme; 

  (d) watching the progress of the measures undertaken by the Governments interested; 

  (e) any  other  matter  which  is  supplemental,  incidental  or  consequential  to  any  of  the  above 
functions. 

14. **Functions of Board.**—(1)  The  Central  Government,  after  consultation  with  the  Governments 
interested, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, empower the Board to perform all or such of the 
functions under section 13 as may be specified in the notification. 

(2) The Board shall exercise its powers and perform all the functions which it is empowered to do by 
or under this Act within its area of operation. 

(3) In performing its functions under this Act, the Board shall consult the Governments interested at 
all stages and endeavour to secure, as far as may be practicable, agreement among such Governments. 

15. **Preparation of schemes by Board and their execution.**—(1) Where  any  Board  has  been 
empowered  to  perform  functions  under  clause  (b)  of  section  13,  the  Board  may,  from  time  to  time, 
prepare  schemes,  not  inconsistent  with  its  functions  under  this  Act,  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  or 
developing any inter-State river or river valley within  its area of operation. 

(2) After  preparing  any  such  scheme,  the  Board  shall  consult  the  Governments  interested  and  the 
Central Government in respect of the scheme and after considering their suggestions, if any, the Board 
may confirm, modify or reject the scheme. 

(3) The  scheme  as  confirmed  or  modified  under  sub-section  (2)  shall  thereupon  become  final  and 
shall be called the approved scheme. 

(4) Before any scheme is approved, the Board shall take into account the costs likely to be incurred in 
undertaking  measures  for  executing  the  scheme  and  in  maintaining  any  works  to  be  undertaken  in  the 
execution  of  the  scheme  and  the  costs  shall  be  allocated  among  the  Governments  interested  in  such 
proportion  as  may  be  agreed  or,  in  default  of  agreement,  as  may  be  determined  by  the  Board  having 
regard to the benefits which will be received from the scheme by them. 

(5) Every  approved  scheme  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  Governments  interested  and  the  Board  may 
advise  them  to  undertake  measures  for  executing  the  scheme  and  a  copy  of  the  approved  scheme  shall 
also be forwarded to the Central Government. 

(6) The  Central  Government  may,  on  a  request  received  in  this  behalf  from  any  Government 
interested or otherwise, assist the Governments interested in taking such steps as may be necessary for the 
execution of the scheme. 

16. **General Powers of Board.**—For  the  purpose  of  efficiently  performing  its  functions  under  this 
Act, every Board may, within its area of operation,— 

  (a) acquire,  hold  and  dispose  of  such  property,  both  movable  and  immovable,  as  it  deems 
necessary; 

  (b) undertake such preliminary investigation or surveys or other measures as it deems necessary; 

  (c) inspect  or  cause  to  be  inspected  any  works  undertaken  by  any  Government  interested 
concerning the regulation or development of the inter-State river or river valley; 

  (d) conduct  and  co-ordinate  research  or  various  aspects  of  the  conservation,  regulation  or 
utilisation  of  water  resources,  such  as  water  power  generation,  irrigation,  navigation,  flood  control, 
soil conservation, land use and connected structural and design features; 

  (e) collect such topographical, meteorological, hydrological and sub-soil  water data as it deems 
necessary; 

  (f) publish  statistics  or  other  information  relating  to  the  various  aspects  of  the  regulation  or 
development of the inter-State river or river  valley; 

  (g) require any Government interested to furnish such information as the Board  may require in 
relation to— 

     (i) the  measures  undertaken  by  that  Government  for  the  regulation  or  development  of  the 
inter-State river or river valley; 

     (ii) the topographical, meteorological, hydrological and sub-soil water data; 

     (iii) such other matters as may be prescribed. 

17. **Payment to Board.**—The Central Government may, after due appropriation made by Parliament 
by law in this behalf, pay to the Board in each financial year such sums as the Central Government may 
consider necessary for the performance of the functions of the Board under this Act. 

18. **Fund of Board.**—(1) The Board shall have its own fund, and all sums which may, from time to 
time, be paid to it by the Central Government or a State Government and all other receipts of the Board 
shall be carried to the fund of the Board and all payments by the Board shall be made therefrom. 

(2) The Board may expend such sums as it thinks fit for performing its functions under this Act, and 
such sums shall be treated as expenditure payable out of the fund of the Board. 

19. **Budget.**—The Board shall prepare, in such form and at such time each year as may be prescribed, 
a budget in respect of the financial year next ensuing showing the estimated receipts and expenditure, and 
copies thereof shall be forwarded to the Central Government and the Governments interested. 

20. **Annual report.**—The Board  shall  prepare, in  such  form  and  at  such  time  each  year  as  may be 
prescribed, an annual report giving a true and full account of its activities during the previous year and 
copies  thereof  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  Central  Government  and  the  Governments  interested;  and  the 
Central Government shall cause every such report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament. 

21. **Accounts and audit.**—(1) The Board shall cause to be maintained such books of account and 
other books in relation to its accounts in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed. 

(2) The accounts of the Board shall be audited at such time and in such manner as may be prescribed. 

###CHAPTER IV 

###MISCELLANEOUS 

22. **Arbitration.**—(1) Where any dispute or difference arises between two or more Government 
interested with respect to— 

  (a) any advice tendered by the Board under this Act; 

  (b) any measurers undertaken by any Government interested in pursuance of any advice tendered 
by the Board; 

  (c) the refusal or neglect of any Government interested to undertake any measurers in pursuance 
of any advice tendered by the Board; 

  (d) the sharing of benefits or financial liabilities arising out of any advice tendered by the Board; 

  (e) any other matter covered by this  Act or touching or arising out of it, 

any of the Governments interested may, in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed, refer the 
matter in dispute to arbitration. 

(2) The  arbitrator  shall  be  person  to  be  appointed  in  this  behalf  by  the  Chief  Justice  of  India  from 
among persons who are, or have been, Judges of the Supreme Court or are Judges of a High Court. 

(3) The arbitrator may appoint two or more persons as assessors to assist him in the proceeding before 
him. 

(4) The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on the parties to the dispute and shall be 
given effect to by them. 

(5) Nothing in the Arbitration Act, 1940 (10 of 1940), shall apply to arbitrations under this section. 

23. **Returns and reports.**—The  Board  shall  furnish  to  the  Central  Government  such  returns, 
statistics, accounts and other information with respect to its fund or activities as the Central Government 
may from time to time require. 

24. **Delegation of powers.**—The Board may, by general or special order in writing, delegate to the 
chairman or any other member of any officer of the Board, subject to such conditions and limitations, if 
any,  as  may  be  specified  in  the  order,  such  of  its  powers  and  functions  under  this  Act  as  it  may  deem 
necessary for the efficient running of the day-to day administration of the Board. 

25. **Members and officers of Board to be public servants.**—All members and officers of a Board 
shall, when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act, be deemed to be 
public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). 

26. **Protection of action taken in good faith.**—No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against any 
member or officer of a Board in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in 
pursuance of this Act. 

27. **Dissolution of Board and transfer of assets and liabilities.**—(1) When the Central Government 
is  of  opinion  that  a  Board  has  performed  its  functions  under  this  Act,  the  Central  Government,  after 
consultation with the Governments interested, may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that the 
Board shall be dissolved from such date as may be specified in this behalf in such notification; and the 
Board shall be deemed to have been dissolved accordingly. 

(2) On the dissolution of the Board by a notification under sub-section (1),— 

  (a) all properties, funds and dues which are vested in, or realisable by, the Board shall vest in, and 
be reliable by, such Government or authority as may be specified in the said notification; and 

  (b) all  liabilities  which  are  enforceable  against  the  Board  shall  be  enforceable  only  against  the 
Government or authority specified in the said notification. 

28. **Power to make rules.**—(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, 
make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. 

(2) In  particular,  and  without  prejudice  to  the  generality  of  the  foregoing  power,  such  rules  may 
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 

  (a) the salaries, allowances and conditions of service of members of the Board; 

  (b) the  matters  in  respect  of  which  a  Board  may  tender  advice  to  the  Governments  interested 
under sub-clause (viii) of clause (a) of section 13; 

  (c) the  matters  in  respect  of  which  the  Board  may  require  a  Government  interested  to  furnish 
information; 

  (d) the  manner  in  which  the  Central  Government  may  assist  the  Governments  interested  to 
execute any scheme prepared by the Board; 

  (e) the form in which, and the time within which, the budget and annual report of the Board may 
be prepared and forwarded to the Central Government and the Governments interested; 

  (f) the form and manner in which the accounts of the Board may be maintained, and the time at 
which, and the manner in which, such accounts may be audited; 

  (g) the  returns  and  information  which  the  Board  may  be  required  to  furnish  to  the  Central 
Government; 

  (h) the form and manner in which a dispute may be referred to arbitration under this Act; 

  (i) the procedure to be followed in arbitration proceedings under this Act; 

  (j) the manner of recruitment of the officers of a Board and the terms and conditions of service of 
such officers; 

  (k) any other matter which has to be, or may be prescribed; 

[^1][(3) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each 
House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in 
one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately 
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification 
in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only 
in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or 
annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.] 

29. **Power to make regulations.**—[^2][(1)] The Board may, with the previous approval of the Central 
Government, by notification in the Gazette of India, make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act or 
the rules made thereunder— 

  (a) regulating the meetings of the Board and the procedure for conducting business thereat; 

  (b) regulating  the  manner  in  which,  and  the  purposes  for  which,  advisory  committees  may  be 
appointed; 

  (c) regulating the manner in which and the  purposes for which persons may be associated with 
the Board  under section 11; 

  (d) determining the  terms and conditions of service of the members of advisory committees, of 
persons associated with the Board under section 11 and of all officers appointed by the Board. 

[^3][(2) Every regulation made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before 
each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised 
in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately 
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification 
in  the  regulation  or  both  Houses  agree  that  the  regulation  should  not  be  made,  the  regulation  shall 
thereafter  have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that 
any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done 
under that regulation.] 



[^1]. Subs. by Act 4 of 1986, s. 2 and the Schedule, for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 15-5-1986). 
[^2]. Section 29 renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section by s. 2 and the Schedule, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-10-1984). 
[^3]. Ins. by s. 2 and the Schedule, ibid. (w.e.f. 15-5-1986).