River Basin Organizations River Basin Organisations (RBOs) are designed to help bring about IWRM and improve water governance in Transboundary Water Basins. Governments are now realizing that transboundary river basins, which span multiple states' boundaries, should be managed as an integrated basin, rather than a local concern. Effective river basin management maintains environmental flows, or water levels sufficient to sustain all the elements of aquatic ecosystems, including wetlands and fish populations. In principle, many RBOs acknowledge the need to adopt ecosystem-based approaches to basin management, recognizing that rivers and wetlands provide important ecological services like waste assimilation, floodwater storage, and erosion control.

History of river basin organizations Tennessee Valley Authority TVA was established by US Congress in 1933 to address a wide range of environmental, economic, and technological issues, including the delivery of low-cost electricity and the management of natural resources. President Franklin Roosevelt needed innovative solutions if the New Deal was to lift the nation out of the depths of the Great Depression, and TVA was one of his most innovative ideas.

History of river basin organizations From the start, TVA established a unique problem-solving approach to fulfilling its mission: integrated resource management. Each issue TVA faced — whether it was power production, navigation, flood control, malaria prevention, reforestation, or erosion control — was studied in its broadest context. TVA weighed each issue in relation to the whole picture.

History of river basin organizations TVA built dams to harness the region’s rivers. The dams controlled floods, improved navigation and generated electricity. TVA developed fertilizers, taught farmers how to improve crop yields and helped replant forests, control forest fires, and improve habitat for wildlife and fish. he most dramatic change in Valley life came from the electricity generated by TVA dams. Electric lights and modern appliances made life easier and farms more productive. Electricity also drew industries into the region, providing desperately needed jobs.

Damodar Valley Cooperation Regular flooding of the Damodar River had caused it to be labeled the "River of Sorrows", and following a devastating flood in 1943, the Government of West Bengal formed a board of inquiry to address the issue. The board recommended forming an organization, similar to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) of the flood-prone Tennessee Valley in the United States. In 1944, W.L. Voorduin, a senior engineer of the TVA, was appointed to develop a comprehensive plan for the area.

Damodar Valley Cooperation In March 1948, the Damodar Valley Corporation Act (Act No. XIV of 1948) was passed by the Constituent Assembly, and the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) was officially formed on July 7, 1948. The corporation was jointly formed by the government bodies: the Central Government, the Government of West Bengal and the Government of Jharkhand to participate jointly for the purpose of building the Damodar Valley Corporation.

Success of the RBOs The levels of authority that governments grant to RBOs are critical to their abilities to manage their respective river basins. The most successful RBOs have strong bases of support among basin governments, and high levels of authority through formal instruments like legislation. The absence of formal and binding provisions weakens the operational capacity of many international RBOs, such as the Mekong River Commission, which has no enforceable authority. the level of cooperation among members of the river basin organization is also important

Great political and economic diversity among basin nations can cause mismatches in goals and make basin-wide decision-making difficult. Specific and achievable measures to implement basin-wide goals are essential River basin management requires strengthened mechanisms for transparency, public participation, and accountability to ensure that local concerns are incorporated into transboundary decision-making.

Basin Organizations can play a role in: Instituting integrated (rather than sectoral) planning of water resources development, protection, allocation and ecosystem restoration. Decentralizing water management functions from national or state level to basin level.

Negotiating the complexities of managing transboundary rivers, lakes and aquifers. Overseeing activities that have basin-wide impact---for example, constructing or operating large-scale water infrastructure for multiple uses, coordinating pollution prevention, and organizing flood protection.

Promoting equitable water utilization and benefit sharing. Developing joint projects (e.g. power generation and navigation). increase, consistent basin-wide monitoring and enforcing become increasingly important

Providing a mechanism for stakeholder involvement, effective dialogue and cooperation, and for coordinating between different organizations, levels of decision-making, and sectors. • Providing a platform for basin data collection and knowledge dissemination. • Developing funding mechanisms. • Contributing to a better socio-economic development and integration.

Sustainable river basin managment The form and role of a river basin organization is closely linked to its historical and social context. Key characteristics of sustainable river basin management are: Basin-wide planning to balance all user needs for water resources and to provide protection from water related hazards; Wide public and stakeholder participation in decision-making, local empowerment ; Effective demand management; Agreement on commitments within the basin, and mechanisms for monitoring those agreements; Adequate human and financial resources.

International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) to promote the exchange of experiences between organizations in charge of river basin management institutional and financial management knowledge of water resources training different stakeholders involved in water management increasing the awareness of the general public for water resources management promotes the twinning of basin organizations from different countries, including the exchange of staff support the application of Integrated Water Resources Management

Exercise Propose the items that should be included in a plan for sustainable river basin management What are the issues of transboundary rivers that should be addressed in river basin management? What is the importance of networks of river basin organizations?