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Ponds and lakes · Rajasthan

Ponds and lakes in Barmer

143ponds, out of 339 water bodies

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 339 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Barmer district. 48 of them (14%) were not in use and 0 had been encroached upon. Barmer has the 12th most ponds of the 25 districts in Rajasthan the census counted.

Every water body the census counted in Barmer

48 of 339 water bodies (14%) are not in use: dried up, silted, built over or polluted. Bringing them back is one of the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.

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Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies (2018-19), via India-WRIS.

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  • Ponds143
  • Tanks164
  • Reservoirs2
  • Check dams and percolation tanks17
  • Others13

Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).

Why Barmer's ponds matter for its groundwater

135%Over-exploited

Barmer pumps out 135% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year (2025, Central Ground Water Board), which the board rates over-exploited. Every pond that holds rain long enough for it to soak in puts some of that water back, so the 48 ponds and tanks not in use are a recharge opportunity going to waste.

Groundwater level in Barmer

Bringing a pond in Barmer back

Most ponds that are not in use can be revived. The work is the same in a village or a city sector:

Step 1

Survey

Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.

Step 2

Desilt

Dig out the silt that has sealed the bed, so water soaks into the ground again instead of evaporating.

Step 3

Reconnect

Clear and line the channels that bring rain in, with a silt trap before the pond; divert sewage away from it.

Step 4

Recharge

Add recharge shafts or wells in the bed where the soil is tight, so water reaches the aquifer faster.

Step 5

Protect

Fence or plant the banks, mark the boundary and hand upkeep to the panchayat or residents' body.

Talk to TerraSetu about a pondPond rejuvenation: cost and processOther ways to recharge

Frequently asked questions

How many ponds are there in Barmer?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 143 ponds in Barmer district, out of 339 water bodies in all. That is the 12th most ponds of 25 districts in Rajasthan counted by the census.

How many lakes are there in Barmer?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 0 lakes and 2 reservoirs in Barmer district, along with 164 tanks.

How many water bodies in Barmer are not in use?

48 of the 339 water bodies (14%) 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 Barmer?

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 Barmer running out?

In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Barmer district pumped out 135% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("over-exploited").

Ponds in other districts of Rajasthan

Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.

  1. 1Ajmer3,519 water bodies, 20% not in use2,252
  2. 2Tonk1,934 water bodies, 8% not in use1,485
  3. 3Bharatpur1,315 water bodies, 48% not in use1,094
  4. 4Sawai Madhopur940 water bodies, 19% not in use700
  5. 5Karauli1,470 water bodies, 12% not in use549
  6. 6Jalor1,065 water bodies, 19% not in use529
  7. 7Bhilwara1,877 water bodies, 21% not in use309
  8. 8Chittaurgarh453 water bodies, 18% not in use204
  9. 9Rajsamand555 water bodies, 16% not in use172
  10. 10Pali423 water bodies, 35% not in use150
  11. 11Udaipur775 water bodies, 22% not in use148
  12. 12Jaisalmer489 water bodies, 12% not in use116
  13. 13Jodhpur468 water bodies, 16% not in use92
  14. 14Jaipur82 water bodies, 63% not in use26
  15. 15Pratapgarh75 water bodies, 29% not in use19
  16. 16Kota217 water bodies, 52% not in use18
  17. 17Jhalawar140 water bodies, 45% not in use9
  18. 18Baran118 water bodies, 54% not in use8
  19. 19Nagaur234 water bodies, 2% not in use6
  20. 20Banswara221 water bodies, 18% not in use5
  21. 21Sirohi71 water bodies, 24% not in use5
  22. 22Dungarpur83 water bodies, 14% not in use3
  23. 23Sikar53 water bodies, 77% not in use3
  24. 24Dhaulpur12 water bodies, 8% not in use0

All ponds and lakes in Rajasthan