Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Baramulla
6ponds, out of 15 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 15 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Baramulla district. 8 of them (53%) were not in use and 0 had been encroached upon. Baramulla has the 18th most ponds of the 18 districts in Jammu and Kashmir the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in Baramulla
8 of 15 water bodies (53%) 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 Baramulla…
- Ponds6
- Tanks8
- Others1
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why Baramulla's ponds matter for its groundwater
23%Safe
Baramulla pumps out 23% 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 Baramulla 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 Baramulla?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 6 ponds in Baramulla district, out of 15 water bodies in all. That is the 18th most ponds of 18 districts in Jammu and Kashmir counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in Baramulla?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies recorded no lakes or reservoirs in Baramulla district; its 15 water bodies are mostly ponds and 8 tanks.
How many water bodies in Baramulla are not in use?
8 of the 15 water bodies (53%) 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 Baramulla?
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 Baramulla running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Baramulla district pumped out 23% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Jammu and Kashmir
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.
- 1Kathua3,138 water bodies, 16% not in use1,322
- 2Jammu928 water bodies, 55% not in use888
- 3Udhampur896 water bodies, 24% not in use556
- 4Samba543 water bodies, 76% not in use543
- 5Reasi1,471 water bodies, 11% not in use429
- 6Rajouri761 water bodies, 6% not in use260
- 7Kupwarar270 water bodies, 24% not in use226
- 8Poonch202 water bodies, 44% not in use182
- 9Pulwama225 water bodies, 9% not in use102
- 10Anantnag161 water bodies, 32% not in use72
- 11Doda99 water bodies, 51% not in use68
- 12Kulgam43 water bodies, 23% not in use35
- 13Kishtwar153 water bodies, 8% not in use27
- 14Shopian36 water bodies, 19% not in use24
- 15Ramban45 water bodies, 9% not in use17
- 16Bandipora38 water bodies, 16% not in use11
- 17Budgam12 water bodies, 25% not in use10