River Research Institute
River Research Institute (RRI) a national autonomous organisation working as a statutory public authority under the Ministry of Water Resources. RRI provides very essential support services for sustainable planning, design and management of different water resources development projects of the country. The activities of RRI include physical model studies, determination of different soil parameters, quality control of different construction materials, analysis of water quality, suspended bed material and bedload sediment.
RRI was established in 1977. It grew out of the bangladesh water development board's (BWDB) Hydraulic Research Laboratory (established in 1948). RRI was separated from BWDB on 20 August 1991 and became a national autonomous organisation by virtue of the Act No. 53 of July 1990. Headquarters of RRI is located at suburb of Faridpur town.
The major responsibilities of RRI as mandated by the Act 53 of 1990 are: (i) to conduct physical model studies for design of river training, river erosion control, flood control, irrigation and drainage activities and also for research works in the fields of river engineering, sediment control, estuary and tidal effects; (ii) to conduct Mathematical Model Studies in the fields of river flows and hydrological zones, hydrology, utilisation of surface and ground water, environmental aspects, specially salinity intrusion and water quality; (iii) to conduct tests on different construction materials used in the works of river training, erosion control, flood control, irrigation and drainage structures and also to investigate the quality of construction works and evaluation thereof; (iv) to conduct training programmes on the above mentioned subjects and to publish related technical journal and reports; (v) to advise the government, local authority or any other organisations on the aforesaid subjects; (vi) to co-operate with and to conduct joint venture programmes with other local or foreign organisations engaged in similar activities; and (vii) to take any necessary actions to perform the above mentioned responsibilities. Physical modeling facilities are available in RRI since its establishment. Very soon RRI will start mathematical modeling and for this, all the formalities are completed for purchasing the required software and hardware facilities. Since physical and mathematical modeling tools are complementary to each other. Both physical and mathematical model have been proved to be very essential for sound engineering judgments to find solutions for different water resources development project. In view of this RRI is trying to adopt hybrid modeling approach by using physical as well as mathematical modeling to improve the understanding of different water systems which may lead to safer and less expensive solutions for engineering problems.
RRI is governed by a 9 member Board of Governors, chaired by the Minister, Ministry of Water Resources. Board of Governors provides policy guidelines, review and evaluate the activities of RRI and approves important proposals. RRI has conducted more than a hundred physical model studies in various water-related projects of the country. Some worth mentioning projects are Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge project, Jamuna Bank Protection at Bahadurabad and Kamarzani, Tista Barrage Project etc. RRI is conducting physical model studies of several projects, some on-going ones are Bangabandhu Bridge, Gorai River Restoration Project, Dhaleshwari Bridge 1 and 2, Dhaka Bridge Project etc. RRI has been publishing the RRI Technical Journal yearly since 1991, quarterly 'News Letters', and organisation's annual reports.
Over the years RRI has established close linkages with different national and international institutions. The physical hydromorphological model of Gorai River Restoration Project was established with the technical assistance of Delft Hydraulics, Netherlands, and bangladesh university of engineering and technology (BUET), Dhaka. To meet the future demand in the competitive market, RRI is trying to develop its institutional capacity and increasing collaboration with local and foreign institutions like BUET, Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune (India), Danish Hydraulic Institute (Denmark), Delft Hydraulics (Netherlands) and HR Willington (UK). [HS Mozaddad Faruque]
