What is the River Basin Management (RBM) Scheme?
The RBM Scheme is a central sector initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation). Its primary goal is to ensure the integrated planning, sustainable use, and protection of surface and groundwater resources at the river basin level.
Instead of looking at water resources in isolation, the scheme treats an entire river basin—including its rivers, tributaries, lakes, and groundwater—as a single, interconnected ecosystem.
Institutional Framework
The RBM Scheme consists of two broad components:
1. Brahmaputra Board
- Focuses on river basin planning, flood control, erosion management, drainage development, and sustainable water resource management in the North Eastern Region
2. Investigation of Water Resources Development Scheme (IWRDS)
Implemented through:
- Central Water Commission (CWC): Conducts surveys, investigations, and prepares Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for water resource projects in remote terrains
- National Water Development Agency (NWDA): Handles national-level water planning, specifically the preparation of feasibility reports for the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) programme
Geographical Priority
The scheme strategically targets water-rich yet underdeveloped regions that are critical for:
- National security
- Water security
- Cross-border management
- Flood control
- Ecological stability
Key focus areas:
- Brahmaputra basin
- Barak basin
- Teesta basin
- Indus basin
Priority regions:
- North Eastern States
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Ladakh
Key Objectives
- Flood and Erosion Management: Implementing physical protection measures, such as securing Majuli Island in Assam from severe river currents
- Project Development: Preparing DPRs to expand irrigation capacity and harness hydropower generation in Himalayan rivers
- Technological Integration: Utilizing modern mapping and surveying tools like GIS, LiDAR, and drone surveys
- Community Integration: Promoting local practices like springshed management among tribal and rural communities in hilly regions
Understanding River Basins
Key Features of a River Basin:
- Tributaries: Smaller streams joining a main river
- Confluence: Point where rivers meet
- Watershed: Highland boundary separating basins
- Source: Origin of the river
- Mouth: Where it drains into a sea, lake, or ocean
> A river basin is regarded as the basic hydrological unit for planning and development of water resources in India.
River Basins of India
India's drainage system is classified into 20 river basin groups, comprising:
- 12 major river basins (each >20,000 sq km)
- 8 composite river basins
Major River Basins (>20,000 sq km):
- Indus
- Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna
- Godavari
- Krishna
- Cauvery
- Mahanadi
- Pennar
- Brahmani–Baitarani
- Sabarmati
- Mahi
- Narmada
- Tapti
Largest Basin:
- Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna basin is the largest
- Catchment area: ~11.0 lakh km²
- Accounts for over 43% of the total catchment area of major rivers
Classification:
- Major basins: >20,000 sq km
- Medium basins: 2,000-20,000 sq km
- Minor basins: <2,000 sq km
Composite Basins (8):
- Subarnarekha group
- East-flowing rivers between major basins
- West-flowing rivers of Kutch and Saurashtra (including Luni)
- Coastal rivers from Tapi to Kanyakumari
- Inland drainage areas of Rajasthan
> Important: All major river basins and many medium basins are inter-state in nature, together spanning nearly 81% of India's geographical area.
Significance for India
- Water Security: Ensuring sustainable water availability for drinking, agriculture, and industry
- Flood Management: Reducing devastation caused by annual floods in major river basins
- Regional Development: Focusing on underdeveloped border regions (NE states, J&K, Ladakh)
- Ecological Stability: Protecting wetlands, forests, and biodiversity
- Cross-border Management: Managing international rivers shared with neighboring countries
- Interlinking of Rivers: NWDA's role in ILR programme for inter-basin water transfer