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Ponds and lakes · Tamil Nadu

Ponds and lakes in Dharmapuri

274ponds, out of 1,225 water bodies

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 1,225 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Dharmapuri district. 845 of them (69%) were not in use and 24 had been encroached upon. Dharmapuri has the 22nd most ponds of the 27 districts in Tamil Nadu the census counted.

Every water body the census counted in Dharmapuri

845 of 1,225 water bodies (69%) 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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  • Ponds274
  • Tanks410
  • Lakes498
  • Reservoirs6
  • Check dams and percolation tanks35
  • Others2

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

Why Dharmapuri's ponds matter for its groundwater

90%Semi-critical

Dharmapuri pumps out 90% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year (2025, Central Ground Water Board), which the board rates semi-critical. Every pond that holds rain long enough for it to soak in puts some of that water back, so the 845 ponds and tanks not in use are a recharge opportunity going to waste.

Groundwater level in Dharmapuri

Bringing a pond in Dharmapuri 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 Dharmapuri?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 274 ponds in Dharmapuri district, out of 1,225 water bodies in all. That is the 22nd most ponds of 27 districts in Tamil Nadu counted by the census.

How many lakes are there in Dharmapuri?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 498 lakes and 6 reservoirs in Dharmapuri district, along with 410 tanks.

How many water bodies in Dharmapuri are not in use?

845 of the 1,225 water bodies (69%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 24 had been encroached upon.

How do ponds help groundwater in Dharmapuri?

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 Dharmapuri running out?

In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Dharmapuri district pumped out 90% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("semi-critical").

Ponds in other districts of Tamil Nadu

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

  1. 1Ramanathapuram10,292 water bodies, 20% not in use5,237
  2. 2Pudukkottai7,575 water bodies, 45% not in use3,063
  3. 3Sivagangai10,032 water bodies, 41% not in use2,482
  4. 4Thiruvarur6,524 water bodies, 10% not in use2,144
  5. 5Thanjavur4,564 water bodies, 39% not in use2,021
  6. 6Cuddalore3,810 water bodies, 69% not in use1,902
  7. 7Tiruvannamalai5,021 water bodies, 57% not in use1,815
  8. 8Virudhunagar3,707 water bodies, 37% not in use1,567
  9. 9Tiruvallur3,758 water bodies, 57% not in use1,229
  10. 10Kanniyakumari2,532 water bodies, 11% not in use1,203
  11. 11Tiruchirappalli2,875 water bodies, 80% not in use1,190
  12. 12Ariyalur2,293 water bodies, 43% not in use1,051
  13. 13Madurai2,295 water bodies, 60% not in use693
  14. 14Namakkal1,061 water bodies, 67% not in use657
  15. 15Erode1,168 water bodies, 48% not in use652
  16. 16Coimbatore939 water bodies, 85% not in use615
  17. 17Tiruppur776 water bodies, 31% not in use568
  18. 18Perambalur1,078 water bodies, 58% not in use442
  19. 19Karur1,034 water bodies, 66% not in use438
  20. 20Krishnagiri1,719 water bodies, 55% not in use381
  21. 21Thoothukudi1,278 water bodies, 44% not in use342
  22. 22Salem896 water bodies, 47% not in use243
  23. 23Dindigul2,350 water bodies, 72% not in use236
  24. 24Chennai305 water bodies, 48% not in use142
  25. 25Theni1,361 water bodies, 83% not in use52
  26. 26The Nilgiris98 water bodies, 1% not in use0

All ponds and lakes in Tamil Nadu