Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Pulwama
102ponds, out of 225 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 225 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Pulwama district. 20 of them (9%) were not in use and 2 had been encroached upon. Pulwama has the 9th most ponds of the 18 districts in Jammu and Kashmir the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in Pulwama
20 of 225 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 Pulwama…
- Ponds102
- Tanks31
- Lakes1
- Reservoirs34
- Check dams and percolation tanks1
- Others56
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why Pulwama's ponds matter for its groundwater
38%Safe
Pulwama 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 Pulwama 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 Pulwama?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 102 ponds in Pulwama district, out of 225 water bodies in all. That is the 9th most ponds of 18 districts in Jammu and Kashmir counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in Pulwama?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 1 lake and 34 reservoirs in Pulwama district, along with 31 tanks.
How many water bodies in Pulwama are not in use?
20 of the 225 water bodies (9%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 2 had been encroached upon.
How do ponds help groundwater in Pulwama?
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 Pulwama running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Pulwama district pumped out 38% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Jammu and Kashmir
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.
- 1Kathua3,138 water bodies, 16% not in use1,322
- 2Jammu928 water bodies, 55% not in use888
- 3Udhampur896 water bodies, 24% not in use556
- 4Samba543 water bodies, 76% not in use543
- 5Reasi1,471 water bodies, 11% not in use429
- 6Rajouri761 water bodies, 6% not in use260
- 7Kupwarar270 water bodies, 24% not in use226
- 8Poonch202 water bodies, 44% not in use182
- 9Anantnag161 water bodies, 32% not in use72
- 10Doda99 water bodies, 51% not in use68
- 11Kulgam43 water bodies, 23% not in use35
- 12Kishtwar153 water bodies, 8% not in use27
- 13Shopian36 water bodies, 19% not in use24
- 14Ramban45 water bodies, 9% not in use17
- 15Bandipora38 water bodies, 16% not in use11
- 16Budgam12 water bodies, 25% not in use10
- 17Baramulla15 water bodies, 53% not in use6