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.
1. 15th May, 1957, vide notification No. EL-I-452 (17)/57, dated 11th May, 1957, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II,
sec. 1.
1st October, 1973, vide Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and the First Schedule in respect of Pondicherry.
1st July 1965, vide Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and the First Schedule extended to and brought into force in respect of the Dadra and
Nagar Haveli.
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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.