The River Boards Act, 1956

(1) This Act may be called the River Boards Act, 1956. (2) It shall come into force on such date1as the Central Government may, by notification in theOfficial Gazette, appoint.

It is hereby declared that it isexpedient in the public interest that the Central Government should take under its control the regulationand development of inter-State rivers and river valleys, to the extent hereinafter provided.

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 Stateswhich, in the opinion of the Central Government, are likely to be interested in, or affected by, thefunctions 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.

(1) The Central Government may, on a request received in this behalffrom a State Government or otherwise, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a River Board foradvising the Governments interested in relation to such matters concerning the regulation or developmentof an inter-State river or river valley or any specified part thereof and for performing such other functionsas may be specified in the notification, and different Boards may be established for different inter-Staterivers or river valleys: Provided that no such notification shall be except after consultation with the Governments interestedwith respect to the proposal to establish the Board, the persons to be appointed as members thereof andthe 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 undersub-section (1). (3) Every Board so established shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a commonseal, 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 sospecified shall be called the area of operation of the Board.

(1) The Board shall consist of a Chairman and such other members asthe Central Government thinks fit to appoint. (2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a member unless, in the opinion of the CentralGovernment, he has special knowledge and experience in irrigation, electrical engineering flood control,navigation, water conservation, soil conservation administration or finance.