Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Kohima
58ponds, out of 63 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 63 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Kohima district. 2 of them (3%) were not in use and 0 had been encroached upon. Kohima has the 8th most ponds of the 11 districts in Nagaland the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in Kohima
2 of 63 water bodies (3%) 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 Kohima…
- Ponds58
- Lakes4
- Check dams and percolation tanks1
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why Kohima's ponds matter for its groundwater
7.8%Safe
Kohima pumps out 7.8% 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 Kohima 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 Kohima?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 58 ponds in Kohima district, out of 63 water bodies in all. That is the 8th most ponds of 11 districts in Nagaland counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in Kohima?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 4 lakes and 0 reservoirs in Kohima district, along with 0 tanks.
How many water bodies in Kohima are not in use?
2 of the 63 water bodies (3%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 0 had been encroached upon.
How do ponds help groundwater in Kohima?
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 Kohima running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Kohima district pumped out 8% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Nagaland
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.
- 1Dimapur510 water bodies, 0% not in use510
- 2Zunheboto189 water bodies, 0% not in use188
- 3Kiphire143 water bodies, 0% not in use108
- 4Mon92 water bodies, 14% not in use92
- 5Mokokchung125 water bodies, 14% not in use90
- 6Phek85 water bodies, 0% not in use81
- 7Longleng71 water bodies, 0% not in use67
- 8Wokha41 water bodies, 2% not in use40
- 9Tuensang39 water bodies, 33% not in use38
- 10Peren74 water bodies, 5% not in use26