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Ponds and lakes · West Bengal

Ponds and lakes in Birbhum

33,692ponds, out of 33,968 water bodies

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 33,968 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Birbhum district. 6,216 of them (18%) were not in use and 0 had been encroached upon. Birbhum has the 3rd most ponds of the 21 districts in West Bengal the census counted.

Every water body the census counted in Birbhum

6,216 of 33,968 water bodies (18%) 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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  • Ponds33,692
  • Tanks195
  • Lakes34
  • Reservoirs38
  • Check dams and percolation tanks9

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

Why Birbhum's ponds matter for its groundwater

33%Safe

Birbhum pumps out 33% 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.

Groundwater level in Birbhum

Bringing a pond in Birbhum 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 Birbhum?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 33,692 ponds in Birbhum district, out of 33,968 water bodies in all. That is the 3rd most ponds of 21 districts in West Bengal counted by the census.

How many lakes are there in Birbhum?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 34 lakes and 38 reservoirs in Birbhum district, along with 195 tanks.

How many water bodies in Birbhum are not in use?

6,216 of the 33,968 water bodies (18%) 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 Birbhum?

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 Birbhum running out?

In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Birbhum district pumped out 33% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").

Ponds in other districts of West Bengal

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

  1. 1Haora37,301 water bodies, 21% not in use36,861
  2. 2Paschim Medinipur35,467 water bodies, 10% not in use35,040
  3. 3Purba Barddhaman33,181 water bodies, 10% not in use32,493
  4. 4Dakshin Dinajpur30,939 water bodies, 9% not in use30,549
  5. 5Hugli26,894 water bodies, 21% not in use26,590
  6. 6Purba Medinipur25,952 water bodies, 6% not in use24,145
  7. 7Bankura24,846 water bodies, 7% not in use23,746
  8. 8Koch Bihar21,881 water bodies, 3% not in use20,733
  9. 9Puruliya20,867 water bodies, 10% not in use20,395
  10. 10Murshidabad18,674 water bodies, 13% not in use17,932
  11. 11Nadia13,874 water bodies, 19% not in use13,499
  12. 12Malda11,903 water bodies, 7% not in use11,669
  13. 13Uttar Dinajpur10,493 water bodies, 17% not in use10,147
  14. 14Jhargram3,529 water bodies, 11% not in use3,377
  15. 15Kolkatta3,051 water bodies, 30% not in use2,718
  16. 16Paschim Barddhaman1,670 water bodies, 12% not in use1,658
  17. 17Alipurduar1,348 water bodies, 5% not in use1,341
  18. 18Jalpaiguri1,377 water bodies, 21% not in use1,330
  19. 19Darjiling569 water bodies, 21% not in use535
  20. 20Kalimpong49 water bodies, 12% not in use42

All ponds and lakes in West Bengal