The government of Nepal has been investing in the development and expansion of irrigation facilities in the country since time immemorial by the farmers themselves and especially since the beginning of the planned development. From the government level it seems that the development of irrigation has been started only after the construction of Chandra Nahar started in BS 1979. After that In BS 1985, water distribution started from Chandra Nahar, and modern irrigation technology spread in the country. Around the year BS 2000, Judh Nahar was constructed in Sarlahi, Jagdishpur dam in Kapilvastu and Pardi dam in Pokhara were started. Although the production of indigenous technical manpower started after the democratic change in BS 2007, the responsibility of leadership of the Canal Department established in BS 2009. From BS 2013, Canal Department leadership responsibilities was done by Nepali technicians.

After the implementation of the first Five-Year Plan in BS 2013, irrigation development has been started from the government level in a planned manner. In some projects, development committees were formed and started to be implemented, while some projects were implemented at the central level. In the completed projects, divisions/sub-divisions were established as per the requirement and operation and maintenance was started. In the year, BS 2028, four regional directorates were established and in BS 2037, the number of regional directorates was increased from four to five. In the course of the irrigation institutional development, the canal department, irrigation and drinking water department, irrigation and climate science department were renamed as the irrigation department in BS 2044 and established as a representative organization for overall irrigation development and river control.

Since B.S. 2045, five Regional Directorates, 75 District Irrigation Offices, and Central Projects have come into operation under the Irrigation Department. After that, the Local Self-Government Act, BS 2056 was issued and implemented. In BS 2058, there was a structural change in the irrigation department. At the same time, the Disaster Prevention Technical Center under the department was established as a Disaster Prevention Technical Center and various programs were started in the field of water disaster control. A control department was established in BS 2056 Magh 24.

In BS 2058, 5 Regional Directorates, 26 Irrigation Development Divisions, 20 Irrigation Development Sub-Divisions, 8 Irrigation Management Divisions, 3 Mechanical Divisions and Central Projects came into operation under the Irrigation Department. In the same year, 7 divisions and 5 sub-divisions were established under the Water Disaster Control Department. The number of Irrigation Divisions/Sub-Divisions was increased to 73 and the number of Irrigation Management Divisions was increased to 13 in order to facilitate service operation in all districts. Likewise, 24 divisions and 2 sub-division offices came into operation under the Water Disaster Control Department in BS 2072.

As reflected in the Constitution of Nepal, 2072, major central level projects and projects related to water resources, irrigation and water induced disaster management, inter-provincial multi-use projects, inter-nation concern multi-purpose projects, policy formulation, implementation and monitoring tasks to be done by the association of central government, former Irrigation Department and Water Disaster Management Department were dismissed and the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation was established in BS 2074.

The main objectives of the Water Resources and Irrigation Department are as follows:

• In order to make proper use of the available water resources, while absorbing the meaning of the irrigation master plan, the sustainable development and expansion of the irrigation area and the enhancement of agricultural productivity.
• Development and expansion of irrigation in arable land to provide reliable irrigation facilities throughout the year.
• To make sustainable and reliable by timely proper maintenance of the structures built for irrigation and water-borne disaster management as well as effective water management and modernization.
• To increase the efficiency of large irrigation systems that have been completed and are in operation and to develop the capacity of consumers, to make the irrigation service sustainable, reliable and effective, the management of the irrigation systems will be transferred partially or completely.
• Development and use of appropriate technology for river and watershed management by carrying out necessary structural and non-structural works to minimize damage caused by water-borne disasters and develop risk-free land.
• To reduce the loss of human wealth by carrying out necessary studies, research and structural and non-structural works for the management of large landslides.
• To develop and strengthen the information management system related to the infrastructure of irrigation and water-borne disaster management.
• Institutional development, organizational reform for the development and management of irrigation, water-borne disasters, landslides and watersheds and enhancing the capacity of the human resources working in this field.
• To address the impact of climate change, climate risk management programs should be implemented by including adaptation and mitigation in the development of water resources and irrigation.

Vision

To achieve economic and social prosperity of the country through proper development, effective use and sustainable management of water resources and irrigation sector.  

Mission

Achieving balanced, stable and sustainable economic development through integrated water resource management. To reduce economic and social losses from watershed management and water-related disaster reduction and management by using sustainable and reliable structural and non-structural (hardware and software) technology and public awareness. By providing sustainable and reliable irrigation facilities in arable land throughout the year through proper development, maintenance and management of water sources and irrigation structures, increase agricultural productivity and production and contribute to poverty alleviation.