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Ponds and lakes · Telangana

Ponds and lakes in Hyderabad (Secunderabad)

64ponds, out of 94 water bodies

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 94 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Hyderabad district. 11 of them (12%) were not in use and 23 had been encroached upon. Hyderabad has the 26th most ponds of the 26 districts in Telangana the census counted.

Every water body the census counted in Hyderabad

11 of 94 water bodies (12%) 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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  • Ponds64
  • Tanks13
  • Lakes16
  • Others1

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

Why Hyderabad's ponds matter for its groundwater

98%Critical

Hyderabad pumps out 98% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year (2025, Central Ground Water Board), which the board rates critical. Every pond that holds rain long enough for it to soak in puts some of that water back, so the 11 ponds and tanks not in use are a recharge opportunity going to waste.

Groundwater level in Hyderabad

Bringing a pond in Hyderabad 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 Hyderabad?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 64 ponds in Hyderabad district, out of 94 water bodies in all. That is the 26th most ponds of 26 districts in Telangana counted by the census.

How many lakes are there in Hyderabad?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 16 lakes and 0 reservoirs in Hyderabad district, along with 13 tanks.

How many water bodies in Hyderabad are not in use?

11 of the 94 water bodies (12%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 23 had been encroached upon.

How do ponds help groundwater in Hyderabad?

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 Hyderabad running out?

In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Hyderabad district pumped out 98% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("critical").

Ponds in other districts of Telangana

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

  1. 1Medak3,407 water bodies, 17% not in use2,126
  2. 2Nagarkurnool3,083 water bodies, 36% not in use1,581
  3. 3Jangaon5,032 water bodies, 38% not in use1,498
  4. 4Siddipet3,316 water bodies, 15% not in use1,386
  5. 5Sangareddy3,260 water bodies, 20% not in use1,317
  6. 6Yadadri Bhuvanagiri2,542 water bodies, 25% not in use1,239
  7. 7Mahabubabad2,344 water bodies, 3% not in use1,238
  8. 8Karimnagar1,544 water bodies, 4% not in use1,147
  9. 9Nalgonda1,970 water bodies, 51% not in use1,114
  10. 10Jogulamba Gadwal1,338 water bodies, 42% not in use881
  11. 11Komarambheem Asifabad1,873 water bodies, 4% not in use779
  12. 12Bhadradri Kothagudem3,125 water bodies, 4% not in use743
  13. 13Mancherial1,733 water bodies, 3% not in use716
  14. 14Peddapalle1,410 water bodies, 6% not in use679
  15. 15Khammam1,683 water bodies, 3% not in use651
  16. 16Vikarabad1,358 water bodies, 31% not in use591
  17. 17Wanaparthy1,490 water bodies, 14% not in use588
  18. 18Jagtial1,161 water bodies, 11% not in use578
  19. 19Suryapet1,106 water bodies, 26% not in use510
  20. 20Rajanna Siricilla842 water bodies, 6% not in use471
  21. 21Nizamabad1,333 water bodies, 1% not in use461
  22. 22Medchal Malkajgiri533 water bodies, 63% not in use360
  23. 23Adilabad2,377 water bodies, 21% not in use319
  24. 24Nirmal1,016 water bodies, 3% not in use292
  25. 25Kamareddy3,174 water bodies, 5% not in use195

All ponds and lakes in Telangana