Different Types of River Basin Entitites — A Global Outlook

Abstract

This paper reviews the various kinds of river basin entities established in different regions of the world. These entities are classified in three main groups, namely, (a) valley authorities, with responsibility for broader economic and social development basin-wide; (b) basin entities, responsible in varying degrees for water resources management at the basin level; and (c) coordinating commissions or committees, established with the aim of bringing harmony in water policies and plans at the basin level. Various cases illustrating the three classes of basin entitites are drawn from the experience of various countries. The considerable diversity of the cases illustrated allows for very tentative conclusions only to be drawn.