Water has always played a major role in human societies. It is literally a source of life and prosperity and a cause of death and devastation. Because of this close relationship between water and man, water resources management has been viewed as a crucial vehicle for socio-economic development.

Water resources development in the state was taken up in the late 19th century to curb the destructive effects of water, particularly the devastating floods of river Mahanadi. Though some noticeable works were done during the nineteenth and early twentieth century, concerted efforts were not attempted to remove regional disparity. Large parts of the state continued to remain in the grip of flood and famine in the pre-independence period. After independence, water resources development was given top priority in national agenda. Water being a State subject, State Governments were encouraged to invest heavily in hydraulic infrastructure in order to promote growth, mitigate risk and alleviate poverty.

At the initial stages, in Odisha, major & medium irrigation project works were under Public Works Department & minor (flow) irrigation works under the control of Revenue Department. In the year 1962, a separate Department called Irrigation and Power was set up to expedite the construction work of major and medium irrigation projects.  Minor irrigation works were transferred to Rural Engineering Organization (REO) formed under Planning & Co-ordination Department. In 1980, the R.E.O was abolished and Minor Irrigation activities were transferred to the Irrigation and Power Department. The year 1990 witnessed major changes in Secretariat Administration, resulting in the reorganization of departments and creation of several new departments. A new department called Rural Development Department was created and Irrigation & Power Department was split into Department of Irrigation and Department of Energy. Major and Medium Irrigation remained with the Department of Irrigation, power generation went to the Department of Energy; Minor irrigation works were transferred to R.D. Department.

In the meantime, other sectoral demands of water such as domestic and urban agglomeration, industrial have been increased considerably, which warranted an integrated water resources development and management approach. To face the challenge, first National Water Policy was framed in 1987. Following the principles of National Water Policy, the State Water Policy was framed in 1994, which underscores the need of a coordinated approach to the state’s water resources development. Administrative initiatives were taken to bring all water-related subjects under one umbrella, and in the year 1994,Irrigation Department was restructured as Water Resources Department, which became the nodal department with regard to all matters concerning the State’s water resources. Following the decision, in the year 1996, the Minor irrigation works dealt by R.D Department and Command Area Development works dealt by Agriculture Department were transferred to the Water Resources Department.