Integrated River Basin Management A Framework for Sustainable Water Governance

In this article, Glenn Gomes, Jyoti Choudhary, and Sonia Grover discuss the need for Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) as a holistic approach to sustainable water governance. They highlight that IRBM, building on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), treats rivers, wetlands, and aquifers as interconnected systems. The authors examine global models and Indian initiatives like Namami Gange, emphasizing participatory governance, equitable allocation, and technology use—such as remote sensing, IoT, AI, and GIS—for real-time monitoring. They conclude that strong institutions, political will, and inclusive partnerships are essential for resilient river systems.

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Rivers have always been essential to human civilization. They support ecosystems, communities, industry, and agriculture, while also carrying cultural and spiritual value, replenishing groundwater, and maintaining biodiversity. Yet in recent decades, infrastructure development such as dams, canals, and diversion structures has mostly taken precedence over ecological health and socioeconomic equity in water resource management. This fragmented approach has deepened the strain on waterways that are already facing serious stress.

Rapid urbanization, industrialization, population growth, and unsustainable farming methods have all contributed to the severe water stress that many river basins throughout the world are currently experiencing. By 2030, billions of people are expected to face severe water scarcity. In this context, traditional approaches that handle water at the sectoral or project level are no longer adequate. They overlook the fact that rivers are dynamic systems with downstream communities, ecosystems, and economies directly impacted by upstream actions.

This calls for a shift towards River Basin Management (RBM), which builds on the broader principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).

By treating wetlands, catchments, rivers, and aquifers as interconnected systems, Integrated RBM (IRBM) seeks to strike a balance between ecological sustainability and human needs. It weaves together hydrology, ecology, governance, and economics into a comprehensive framework for sustainable water governance.