Partner Organizations
Speakers
Participants
Partners
Honourable Guests
Dr. Raj Bhushan Chowdhury
Union Minister of State, Ministry of Jal Shakti
Govt. of India
Arup Kumar Das
Minister of Irrigation and Waterways
Govt. of West Bengal
th International River Congress
Integrating River Governance: From Policy to Practice!
Rivers are central to India's ecological, economic, social and cultural life, yet they face growing threats from climate change, urbanisation, pollution, encroachments and unsustainable development. To promote integrated and sustainable river governance, the International Institute of River Affairs (IIRA) established the International River Congress (IRC) in 2021 as a global platform for policymakers, researchers, practitioners and communities. Over four editions across South Asia, IRC has strengthened regional collaboration and advanced dialogue on river restoration, climate resilience, water security and integrated river basin management. IRC–5 in 2026 returns to Kolkata, marking five years of sustained commitment to river-centric policy dialogue, scientific exchange and collaborative action.
Chapters
Each edition of the Congress anchors itself in a river city — building a growing network of chapters committed to local action and global exchange.
IRC1
IRC2
IRC3
IRC4
IRC5
Thematic Sessions
Mountain River
Rejuvenation
Mountain River Rejuvenation
Restoring the flow and ecological health of Himalayan and other mountain-origin rivers threatened by glacial retreat, encroachment and unplanned hydropower development.
- Glacial-fed hydrology & climate resilience
- Sediment transport & riverbed health
- Hydropower planning vs. ecological flow
- Community-led headwater conservation
Deltaic River
Rejuvenation
Deltaic River Rejuvenation
Restoration strategies for delta systems facing sediment starvation, salinity intrusion and rising sea levels.
- Sediment management & delta building
- Salinity intrusion & freshwater flow
- Mangrove & wetland restoration
- Climate adaptation for delta communities
River as Cultural
Heritage
River as Cultural Heritage
Exploring rivers as living cultural, spiritual and historical landscapes, and weaving heritage values into river management policy.
- Riverfront heritage conservation
- Traditional & indigenous river knowledge
- Sacred sites & ritual ecology
- Heritage tourism along rivers
River as National
Highways
River as National Highways
Assessing the potential and challenges of inland waterways as a sustainable mode of freight and passenger transport.
- Inland waterway infrastructure
- Multi-modal logistics integration
- Environmental impact of navigation
- Policy & investment frameworks
River & Corporate
Social Responsibility
River & Corporate Social Responsibility
Highlighting the role of corporate partnerships and CSR funding in river conservation, community development and watershed management.
- CSR-funded river conservation models
- Public-private partnerships
- Corporate watershed stewardship
- Measuring impact & accountability
Events
Awards
- Best Nature-Based Solution Award
- Institute of Eminence Award (For Capacity Building in River Affairs)
- River Stewardship Award
- River-Based Livelihood Development Award
River & Research
Advancing knowledge for sustainable river futures — a peer-reviewed compilation of research, case studies and field insight from across the IRC network.
Partnership
Hotel Hindusthan International
235/1 A J C Bose Road, Kolkata - 700 020,
West Bengal, India.
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