The Government of Karnataka (GOK) committed to the establishment of an Advanced Centre for Integrated Water Resources Management (ACIWRM) in the 2011-12 financial year budget. The ACIWRM is the first of its kind in India. The rationale for the initiative was to create an enabling environment for the GOK to pursue its objective of moving towards achieving water and food security. The IWRM framework provides the opportunity to integrate the land and water related management aspects at the sub-basin and river basin levels.

The ACIWRM is a think tank to the government’s Water Resources Department (WRD). It engages in policy analysis, research, planning, capacity building and develop the knowledge base to gear up the department up for its future vision 2030. The ACIWRM works with the various Departments, civil society, the private sector, farmers and water user associations, and other organizations to produce integrated advice to the WRD for managing the state’s water resources.