Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Balrampur
621ponds, out of 643 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 643 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Balrampur district. 190 of them (30%) were not in use and 0 had been encroached upon. Balrampur has the 15th most ponds of the 21 districts in Chhattisgarh the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in Balrampur
190 of 643 water bodies (30%) are not in use: dried up, silted, built over or polluted. Bringing them back is one of the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.
Loading the map of water bodies in Balrampur…
- Ponds621
- Tanks7
- Lakes2
- Reservoirs11
- Check dams and percolation tanks2
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why Balrampur's ponds matter for its groundwater
29%Safe
Balrampur pumps out 29% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year (2025, Central Ground Water Board), which the board rates safe. Working ponds are a large part of what keeps it there, by letting rain soak back into the ground.
Bringing a pond in Balrampur back
Most ponds that are not in use can be revived. The work is the same in a village or a city sector:
Desilt
Dig out the silt that has sealed the bed, so water soaks into the ground again instead of evaporating.
Reconnect
Clear and line the channels that bring rain in, with a silt trap before the pond; divert sewage away from it.
Recharge
Add recharge shafts or wells in the bed where the soil is tight, so water reaches the aquifer faster.
Protect
Fence or plant the banks, mark the boundary and hand upkeep to the panchayat or residents' body.
Frequently asked questions
How many ponds are there in Balrampur?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 621 ponds in Balrampur district, out of 643 water bodies in all. That is the 15th most ponds of 21 districts in Chhattisgarh counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in Balrampur?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 2 lakes and 11 reservoirs in Balrampur district, along with 7 tanks.
How many water bodies in Balrampur are not in use?
190 of the 643 water bodies (30%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 0 had been encroached upon.
How do ponds help groundwater in Balrampur?
A working pond holds rain long enough for it to soak into the ground and refill wells and borewells nearby. A silted or encroached pond sends that rain down the drain instead. Desilting, reopening inlets and adding recharge shafts in the pond bed are among the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.
Is groundwater in Balrampur running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Balrampur district pumped out 29% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Chhattisgarh
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.
- 1Mahasamund2,760 water bodies, 22% not in use2,683
- 2Raipur2,624 water bodies, 10% not in use2,585
- 3Balod1,800 water bodies, 9% not in use1,745
- 4Dhamtari1,741 water bodies, 7% not in use1,715
- 5Gariaband1,683 water bodies, 11% not in use1,652
- 6Mungeli1,593 water bodies, 10% not in use1,578
- 7Bemetara1,616 water bodies, 13% not in use1,560
- 8Jashpur1,552 water bodies, 20% not in use1,464
- 9Kabirdham1,536 water bodies, 20% not in use1,438
- 10Durg1,432 water bodies, 23% not in use1,364
- 11Kanker1,449 water bodies, 13% not in use1,348
- 12Kondagaon1,391 water bodies, 17% not in use1,305
- 13Korba819 water bodies, 7% not in use796
- 14Bastar652 water bodies, 13% not in use639
- 15Surguja608 water bodies, 18% not in use541
- 16Narayanpur220 water bodies, 85% not in use204
- 17Dantewada188 water bodies, 7% not in use177
- 18Bijapur170 water bodies, 19% not in use168
- 19Surajpur100 water bodies, 29% not in use85
- 20Sukma20 water bodies, 30% not in use20