The River Boards Act, 1956

Act No. 49

12-Sep-1956

Section 1 — Short title and commencement

1. Short title and commencement .

(1)This Act may be called the River Boards Act, 1956.

(2)It shall come into force on such date1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Section 2 — Declaration as to expediency of control by Central Government

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.

Section 3 — Definitions

3. Definitions .-In this Ac t, 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.

Section 4 — Establishment of 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 diff erent 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 fun ctions 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.

Section 1 — 15th May, 195 7, vide notification No. EL-I-452 (17)/57, dated 11th May, 195 7, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II,

1. 15th May, 195 7, vide notification No. EL-I-452 (17)/57, dated 11th May, 195 7, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II,