Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Kargil
108ponds, out of 352 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 352 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Kargil district. 28 of them (8%) were not in use and 1 had been encroached upon. Kargil has the 2nd most ponds of the 2 districts in Ladakh the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in Kargil
28 of 352 water bodies (8%) 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 Kargil…
- Ponds108
- Tanks1
- Lakes5
- Reservoirs237
- Check dams and percolation tanks1
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why Kargil's ponds matter for its groundwater
34%Safe
Kargil pumps out 34% 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 Kargil 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 Kargil?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 108 ponds in Kargil district, out of 352 water bodies in all. That is the 2nd most ponds of 2 districts in Ladakh counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in Kargil?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 5 lakes and 237 reservoirs in Kargil district, along with 1 tank.
How many water bodies in Kargil are not in use?
28 of the 352 water bodies (8%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 1 had been encroached upon.
How do ponds help groundwater in Kargil?
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 Kargil running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Kargil district pumped out 34% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Ladakh
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.