DSI - General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works

GENERAL DIRECTORATE of STATE HYDRAULIC WORKS (DSI)

DEVLET SU İŞLERİ GENEL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ (DSİ)

DSI is the primary executive agency responsible for elimination of adverse effects of Turkey’s surface and ground water and putting them in public utilization in various ways such as hydropower, irrigation, domestic and industrial use.

Establishment history of DSI goes back to 1914. In Turkey, water resources development started by the studies in continuous and systematical manner after the establishment of the General Directorate of Public Works “Umur-u Nafia Müdüriyet-i Umumiyesi” in 1914. Irrigation, reclamation, flood control, navigation, water storage and distribution take an important place among the duties of this General Directorate.

After the foundation of Turkish Republic, Water Directorate was established under the General Directorate of Public Works in 1925. On occasion of severe drought prevailed in 1929 led to establishment of Water General Directorate.

The Water Works General Directorate was established in 1939. After this date the importance of water issues was understood well and pre-feasibility, planning, gauging and water level recording studies of water resources were achieved.

Finally, General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works was established in 1954 by means of the law no. 6200 which defines the responsibilities of the agency with supplementary budget under the Ministry of Public Works.