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Advancing Integrated River Basin Management in India: Insights from the GIZ Support to Ganga Rejuvenation Project
The Support to Ganga Rejuvenation (SGR) Project, is implemented by GIZ in conjunction with the ‘India EU Water Initiative’ cofinanced by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union. The project collaborates with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, to strengthen river basin governance across the country. By adapting principles from the EU Water Framework Directive (EU WFD), the initiative promotes an integrated approach to water resources management, focusing on institutional strengthening, strategic planning and environmental sustainability.
The project has successfully introduced a cyclic approach to developing and managing River Basin Plans, based on the principles of the European Union Water Framework Directive and tailored to India’s hydrological and socio-political context. Key achievements include:
- Training over 100 professionals on river basin management;
- Joint development of two River Basin Management Plans for the Tapi and Ramganga basins and four District Ganga Plans by Indian and EU experts;
- Formulation of a National Framework for the Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater to optimize water resource utilization.
The project also supports Indian water authorities in Environmental Flow (E-Flow) assessments, integrating habitat-based methodologies and adaptive management to promote sustainable water allocation. Additionally, public outreach initiatives, such as the ‘Ganga Box’ and ‘Ganga Utsav,’ have been institutionalized through project interventions, drawing inspiration from successful European models like the Danube Box and Danube Day to foster community engagement.
The project aims to strengthen river basin governance in India by integrating science-based, participatory approaches while aligning good practices from the European Union Water Framework Directive with local needs.
