Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Karaikal
579ponds, out of 580 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 580 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Karaikal district. 53 of them (9%) were not in use and 11 had been encroached upon. Karaikal has the most ponds of the 2 districts in Puducherry the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in Karaikal
53 of 580 water bodies (9%) are not in use: dried up, silted, built over or polluted. Bringing them back is one of the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.
Loading the map of water bodies in Karaikal…
- Ponds579
- Lakes1
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why Karaikal's ponds matter for its groundwater
38%Safe
Karaikal pumps out 38% 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.
Bringing a pond in Karaikal back
Most ponds that are not in use can be revived. The work is the same in a village or a city sector:
Desilt
Dig out the silt that has sealed the bed, so water soaks into the ground again instead of evaporating.
Reconnect
Clear and line the channels that bring rain in, with a silt trap before the pond; divert sewage away from it.
Recharge
Add recharge shafts or wells in the bed where the soil is tight, so water reaches the aquifer faster.
Protect
Fence or plant the banks, mark the boundary and hand upkeep to the panchayat or residents' body.
Frequently asked questions
How many ponds are there in Karaikal?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 579 ponds in Karaikal district, out of 580 water bodies in all. That is the 1st most ponds of 2 districts in Puducherry counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in Karaikal?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 1 lake and 0 reservoirs in Karaikal district, along with 0 tanks.
How many water bodies in Karaikal are not in use?
53 of the 580 water bodies (9%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 11 had been encroached upon.
How do ponds help groundwater in Karaikal?
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 Karaikal running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Karaikal district pumped out 38% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Puducherry
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.