Once a prosperous region, the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river basin-inhabited by about a tenth of the world's population-is currently one of the poorest. Large-scale socioeconomic development is urgently needed to ensure the sustainability of the region, and the management of water resources is a crucial part of this. Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna

Dr. Chaturvedi is a globally recognized pioneer of water resources engineering. He has designed and has been on the board of consultants of major Himalayan projects in India. He was the Founder Head, Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and, later, Department of Applied Mechanics at IIT Delhi, where he became Dean (research). Upon retirement from IIT Delhi in 1985, he joined the Planning Commission, Government of India until leaving for the United States to join the University of Texas, Austin in 1989. He has also led collaborations in the United States, Sweden, the former Soviet Union, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Dr. Chaturvedi is a unique combination of professional engineer and academician. He has been identified as a Distinguished Alumni of his alma mater, the University of Iowa. He has been associated with Harvard University for many years and is a founding member and fellow of the IWRA and a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Chaturvedi and his wife, (late) Professor Vipula Chaturvedi, have established the Vipula and Mahesh Chaturvedi Foundation, providing support for research that advances science and the human condition.

Part I System Characteristics: Introduction. System Environmental Characteristics. Socioeconomic Scene. Part II Current Development Policy and State: Environmental Management-Historical Perspective. Developments in Nepal and Bhutan. Post-Independence Development-India. Environmental Management in Bangladesh. Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan Interaction. Indo-Bangladesh Interaction. Institutional Setup. Part III Proposed Revolutionary Policy: Current Scene and Official Future Perceptions. Revolutionizing the Development and Management of Water- Conceptual and Policy Issues. Revolutionizing the Environmental Management of the GBM Basin. Total Integrated Development of GBM-Policy and Implementation. Conclusions. References. Index.