Indus Basin Organization was set up in 1996 as one of the Regional Office of Central Water Commission with its headquarter at Chandigarh. The Organisation is headed by a Chief Engineer, who is assisted by one Superintending Engineer (Coordination) and three Directors (Monitoring & Appraisal) with their sub-ordinate formations. The organisation is responsible for providing assistance in development of Water Resources in the basin states of Indus basin, viz., Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territories of Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The main activities undertaken in this regard are as follows:

• Monitoring of WR projects being executed under financial assistance of Govt of India through various schemes like PMKSY-AIBP, PMKSY-HKKP & FMP/RMABA in the basin states of Punjab, Haryana, H.P and J&K and U.T. of Chandigarh.
• Processing of proposals for Central Assistance received from State Govt./UT and forwarding them with recommendation.
• Techno-economic Appraisal of medium Irrigation & Flood Management projects.
• Hydro-meteorological data collection through a network of HO sites including Snow observatories, flood forecasting/monitoring, their modernization & expansion.
• Preparation of DPR of some selected water resources/hydopower projects by undertaking field surveys and investigation as well as Desktop studies.
• Co-ordination with basin states for implementation of schemes & initiatives of the Ministry, like mass awareness on water conservation, Swachhta Abhiyan, IEC etc.

The Monitoring and Appraisal Directorates are located at Chandigarh, Jammu and Shimla. Two Divisions function under IBO for carrying out field activities related to hydro-meteorological data collection and flood forecasting/monitoring. The Chenab Division located at Jammu is under the administrative control of M&A Directorate, Jammu, while the Snow Hydrology Division at Shimla functions under the control of M&A Directorate, Shimla.   Besides the work of data collection, Chenab Division also undertakes survey and investigation work for preparation of detailed Project Reports of some selected projects. The Snow Hydrology Division is also associated with Implementation of the CWC-NRSC project “Snowmelt Runoff Forecasting in Himalayan River Basins Using Remote Sensing Inputs”. The Snowmelt Runoff Model has been developed under this project.

IBO is also associated with exchange of hydrological data of trans-boundary rivers with the neighbouring countries during the flood season.   Flood data is provided to Pakistan as per provisions of Indus Water Treaty-1960 and in respect of Satluj river, data is shared by China as per Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in this regard.

1. M&A Directorate, Central Water Commission, Chandigarh

It is engaged in the following activities in the State of Punjab, Haryana and UT of Chandigarh:

• Monitoring of physical and financial progress of ongoing Major/Medium/ERM Irrigation Projects.
• Technical Appraisal of Major/Medium/ERM Irrigation Projects and Flood Management Programme (FMP) Projects.
• Monitoring of projects under AIBP and FMP of CWC/MOWR.
• Monitoring of Command Area Development & Water Management (CAD &WM) Projects.
• Special Monitoring of Narwana Branch Canal (Punjab & Haryana portion) as per the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
• Scrutinizing and recommending of Central Assistance (CA) proposals received from the State in r/o AIBP & FMP projects.
• Flood Monitoring during Monsoon Season for the State of Punjab.
• Director, M&A Dte., is also nominated as member of various Central Teams constituted to assess damage due to floods/hailstorms/drought/water-logging etc as and when required.
• Liassioning between the State Govt., CWC (HQs) & Ministry of Water Resources.
• Implementation of IEC schemes of MOWR.

2. M&A Directorate, Central Water Commission, Shimla

It is engaged in the following activities in the State of Himachal Pradesh:

• Scrutinizing the Central Assistance Proposal under AIBP with respect to Govt. of Himachal Pradesh for AIBP funding to Major and Medium Irrigation Projects.
• Monitoring of AIBP funded ongoing Major Medium Irrigation Projects in H. P State.
• Scrutinizing the Central Assistance Proposal under FMP with respect to Govt. of Himachal Pradesh for funding of Flood Protection Schemes under FMP.
• Monitoring of Flood Protection Schemes under FMP in H. P State.
• Techno-economic Appraisal of medium inter-state projects in the State of Himachal Pradesh and preparation of TAC note of the project for approval from TAC of MOWR, GOI.
• Monitoring of Minor Irrigation Projects funded under AIBP in the State of Himachal Pradesh.
• Assistance to State Government for necessary funding under Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies Schemes in the State of Himachal Pradesh.
• Monitoring of CAD&WM Schemes.
• Necessary coordination between the State Govt. CWC(HQ) and Ministry of Water Resources for issue related to water resources in the State of Himachal Pradesh.
• Implementation of MOU between Republic of China and Republic of India regarding sharing of Hydrological information on River Satluj.
• Implementation of the CWC-NRSC project “Snowmelt Runoff Forecasting in Himalayan River Basins Using Remote Sensing Inputs”. The Snowmelt Runoff Model has been developed under this project.
• To assess the damages caused due to floods or any other natural calamities.
• To oversee the studies carried out by the Snow Hydrology Division, Central Water Commission, Shimla.
• To oversee the hydro-meteorological data collection and flood forecasting works in Satluj basin carried out by SHD, CWC, Shimla.
• The work related to HP-II project implementation in the State of Himachal Pradesh.
• Morphological Studies in Satluj Basin
• Develop Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) for short and long term forecasting. Flood monitoring
• Execution of Deposit work of NTPC “Extension of Flood Forecasting and Flood Warning System for NTPC Koldam Hydro Power Project on Deposit Work Basis”.

3. M&A Directorate, Central Water Commission, Jammu

It is engaged in the following activities in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh:

• Investigation of Water resources Development Scheme of Barinium Hydro-electric Project.
• Monitoring of Data transmission for IndusCommission is also being done. The data being observed by the State Government at various sites maintained by the State Government agencies has to be monitored for timely submission to Indus Commissioner as and when necessary.
• Flood data transmission during monsoon as per Indus Water Treaty requirements.
• Hydrological observation and flood forecasting network in Jhelum Basin.
• Monitoring& Appraisal of Irrigation Projects & Flood protection projects in J&K.
• Liassioning between the State Govt., CWC (HQs) & Ministry of Water Resources Preparation of Water Year Book
• Upgradation and continuation of hydrological observation including Snow hydrology studies and Monitoring of Glacial Lakes in the existing network under CWC.
• Expansion of hydrological network by opening of New hydrological sites.
• Upgradation of Water quality Laboratories for monitoring of Water quality at existing and new stations.