River Boards Act, 1956 (Act No. 49 of 1956).

The text of the Act consists of 28 sections divided into 4 Chapters: Preliminary (I); Establishment of River Boards (II); Powers and Functions of the Board (III); Miscellaneous (IV).
It is declared that in the public interest the Central Government shall take under its control the regulation and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys to the extent provided for in this Act (sect. 2). The Government may, on request of a State or otherwise, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a River Board which shall advise State Governments on the development of inter-state rivers or river valleys and may perform such other functions as may be specified in the Notification. Every Board shall be established as a corporate body (sect. 4). The Board shall consist of a Chairman and such other members as the Central Government thinks fit to appoint (sect. 5). Section 13 of Chapter III specifies all the functions which a Board may perform. Section 15 provides for the preparation of development schemes where a Board is empowered to so. General powers of the Board include the acquisition of movable and immovable property and the inspection of state waterworks (sect. 16). Section 22 provides for arbitration of disputes between Governments with respect to advice of the Board or its implementation.