Ponds and lakes · Karnataka

Ponds and lakes in Kolara

326ponds, out of 1,304 water bodies

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 1,304 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Kolara district. 1,187 of them (91%) were not in use and 36 had been encroached upon. Kolara has the 7th most ponds of the 27 districts in Karnataka the census counted.

Every water body the census counted in Kolara

1,187 of 1,304 water bodies (91%) 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 Kolara…

Ponds326
Tanks857
Lakes28
Reservoirs15
Check dams and percolation tanks1
Others77

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

Why Kolara's ponds matter for its groundwater

184%Over-exploited

Kolara pumps out 184% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year (2025, Central Ground Water Board), which the board rates over-exploited. Every pond that holds rain long enough for it to soak in puts some of that water back, so the 1,187 ponds and tanks not in use are a recharge opportunity going to waste.

Groundwater level in Kolara

Bringing a pond in Kolara 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 pond Pond rejuvenation: cost and process Other ways to recharge

Frequently asked questions

How many ponds are there in Kolara?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 326 ponds in Kolara district, out of 1,304 water bodies in all. That is the 7th most ponds of 27 districts in Karnataka counted by the census.

How many lakes are there in Kolara?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 28 lakes and 15 reservoirs in Kolara district, along with 857 tanks.

How many water bodies in Kolara are not in use?

1,187 of the 1,304 water bodies (91%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 36 had been encroached upon.

How do ponds help groundwater in Kolara?

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 Kolara running out?

In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Kolara district pumped out 184% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("over-exploited").

Ponds in other districts of Karnataka

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

All ponds and lakes in Karnataka