All irrigation activities in Assam were managed by the Agriculture Department until 1968. Following the devastating flood of 1954, the need for a dedicated department to handle water resources in the state was strongly felt. It was only in 1970 that the Brahmaputra Flood Control Commission and the Flood Control & Irrigation Department were established.At that time, the Flood Control & Irrigation Department was entrusted with flood control works in the Barak Valley and irrigation projects across the entire state. This included surveying, investigation, planning, designing, execution, operation, and maintenance of irrigation schemes. Later, the department was renamed the Public Works (Flood Control & Irrigation) Department, Assam, and was given responsibility for flood control works in the Brahmaputra Valley.With the introduction of high-yielding variety (HYV) crops, the demand for irrigation grew significantly. Finally, in 1974, the present Irrigation Department was created by bifurcating the Public Works (Flood Control & Irrigation) Department. The new department was formed by integrating the engineering wing of the Agriculture Department along with the irrigation schemes previously constructed by the Agriculture Department, making it exclusively responsible for irrigation development in the state.

According to records, the oldest existing irrigation scheme in Assam is the Alternative Flow Irrigation Scheme in Kokrajhar, initiated before 1950. One of the oldest functioning irrigation schemes is the C. M. Dutta Bund Minor Irrigation Scheme in Kalaigaon. Two other such notable schemes are Sukhajani and Noanadi F.I.S.. All these three schemes were undertaken in 1955-56.The first major irrigation project in Assam was the Jamuna Irrigation Project, which commenced in 1964-65 and was completed in 1968. Additionally, Assam is home to Asia’s largest lift irrigation scheme, which draws water from the mighty Brahmaputra as part of the Integrated Irrigation Scheme from the Kollong River Basin. The scheme’s lift point is located at Hatimura, Jakhalabandha, Nagaon, and it operates with four pumps, each having a capacity of 650 HP.