Published Paper Details:

Water as a natural resource has a multi-dimensional approach. It is not limited to the hydrological cycle, but it can be extended to other aspects like qualitative, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions. One of the most important dimensions is the socio-economics dimension which both influence and influenced by the irrigation sector of a nation. Irrigation is the most important aspect of water resources as it derives human settlement in the world. Irrigation has a significant impact on agricultural output in India and agriculture plays a main role in India's Economy as the share of agriculture and allied sector to GDP is 18% out of which 11.8% is from crop production. With this background, the objective of this paper is to draw eyes to e economic history of irrigation development in Odisha. This paper found from the different studies that in the pre-independence period there was little development in irrigation in Odisha started during the British period. Gradually irrigation development starts after independence with the foundation of the Hirakud Dam. But surprisingly the rate of groundwater irrigation is rising very high. Recently the net irrigated area has fallen then earlier. The demands for irrigation water in the state are in alarming stage for the coming years. At the same time expenditure on irrigation, and development has increased, but the share in the total budget has fallen through the planning period. For this cause, this paper suggests more development of watershed management programs and decentralization of different programs for successful achievements.