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Ponds and lakes · Bihar

Ponds and lakes in Jehanabad

67ponds, out of 98 water bodies

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 98 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Jehanabad district. 4 of them (4%) were not in use and 22 had been encroached upon. Jehanabad has the 36th most ponds of the 37 districts in Bihar the census counted.

Every water body the census counted in Jehanabad

4 of 98 water bodies (4%) 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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  • Ponds67
  • Check dams and percolation tanks1
  • Others30

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

Why Jehanabad's ponds matter for its groundwater

82%Semi-critical

Jehanabad pumps out 82% 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 4 ponds and tanks not in use are a recharge opportunity going to waste.

Groundwater level in Jehanabad

Bringing a pond in Jehanabad 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 Jehanabad?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 67 ponds in Jehanabad district, out of 98 water bodies in all. That is the 36th most ponds of 37 districts in Bihar counted by the census.

How many lakes are there in Jehanabad?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies recorded no lakes or reservoirs in Jehanabad district; its 98 water bodies are mostly ponds.

How many water bodies in Jehanabad are not in use?

4 of the 98 water bodies (4%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 22 had been encroached upon.

How do ponds help groundwater in Jehanabad?

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 Jehanabad running out?

In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Jehanabad district pumped out 82% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("semi-critical").

Ponds in other districts of Bihar

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

  1. 1Banka3,344 water bodies, 7% not in use3,164
  2. 2Siwan2,978 water bodies, 66% not in use2,936
  3. 3Madhubani4,893 water bodies, 86% not in use2,736
  4. 4Darbhanga3,759 water bodies, 99% not in use1,813
  5. 5Sitamarhi2,184 water bodies, 62% not in use1,670
  6. 6Gopalganj1,678 water bodies, 78% not in use1,645
  7. 7Vaishali1,635 water bodies, 2% not in use1,635
  8. 8Nalanda2,298 water bodies, 14% not in use1,351
  9. 9Aurangabad1,652 water bodies, 22% not in use1,316
  10. 10Saran1,259 water bodies, 9% not in use1,228
  11. 11Buxar1,267 water bodies, 2% not in use1,223
  12. 12Araria1,981 water bodies, 96% not in use1,167
  13. 13Rohtas1,209 water bodies, 2% not in use1,156
  14. 14Kaimur1,329 water bodies, 5% not in use1,152
  15. 15Supaul1,129 water bodies, 5% not in use1,125
  16. 16Bhojpur1,207 water bodies, 10% not in use1,046
  17. 17Gaya1,265 water bodies, 30% not in use1,020
  18. 18Purnea1,501 water bodies, 100% not in use981
  19. 19West Champaran926 water bodies, 59% not in use854
  20. 20Sheikhpura939 water bodies, 6% not in use840
  21. 21Saharsa811 water bodies, 0% not in use807
  22. 22Muzaffarpur785 water bodies, 91% not in use775
  23. 23Katihar965 water bodies, 100% not in use415
  24. 24Sheohar371 water bodies, 89% not in use358
  25. 25Arwal546 water bodies, 0% not in use338
  26. 26Patna360 water bodies, 28% not in use337
  27. 27Kishanganj341 water bodies, 100% not in use318
  28. 28Madhepura221 water bodies, 4% not in use220
  29. 29Bhagalpur224 water bodies, 92% not in use218
  30. 30Samastipur522 water bodies, 98% not in use207
  31. 31Munger190 water bodies, 32% not in use140
  32. 32Begusarai139 water bodies, 3% not in use137
  33. 33Lakhisarai140 water bodies, 9% not in use133
  34. 34Jamui1,046 water bodies, 91% not in use105
  35. 35Khagaria178 water bodies, 99% not in use92
  36. 36Nawada49 water bodies, 0% not in use49

All ponds and lakes in Bihar