Orissa Lift Irrigation Corporation is a State Government undertaking established in the year 1973 to exploit the surface and ground water resources on a massive scale by pooling funds from all sources with the following objectives.

Prior to tdat, Lift Irrigation projects were executed by the Directorate of Lift Irrigation. During 1996, responsibility of ground water survey and investigation has been taken out from OLIC and a separate Directorate was established to look after the aforesaid works. Thereafter again during 2002, the State Government decided to restructure OLIC aiming to execute new LI Projects to create additional irrigation potential and handing over the same to Pani Panchayat for O&M in the State. After implementation of Pani Panchayat Act, 2002, OLIC is no more collecting water rate from the cultivators of the Pani Panchayats.

The OLIC with its headquarters at Bhubaneswar has presently four Circle Offices and Eighteen Divisions. The Corporation at present is headed by the Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Water Resources as its Chairman. The Managing Director of the Corporation is its Chief Executive. The Circle Offices and Divisions are headed by Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers respectively. Below the Divisions are Sub-Divisions and Section Offices. The Sections are directly responsible for construction work, maintenance of structures and related equipments. The present staff strengtd of OLIC is 1885 (technical-985 and non­technical 900 nos). are as Out of the above, pre corporation govt employees are 155 nos.