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Ponds and lakes · Madhya Pradesh

Ponds and lakes in Ratlam

1,534ponds, out of 1,546 water bodies

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 1,546 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Ratlam district. 950 of them (61%) were not in use and 57 had been encroached upon. Ratlam has the 20th most ponds of the 49 districts in Madhya Pradesh the census counted.

Every water body the census counted in Ratlam

950 of 1,546 water bodies (61%) are not in use: dried up, silted, built over or polluted. Bringing them back is one of the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.

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Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies (2018-19), via India-WRIS.

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  • Ponds1,534
  • Tanks3
  • Check dams and percolation tanks7
  • Others2

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

Why Ratlam's ponds matter for its groundwater

133%Over-exploited

Ratlam pumps out 133% 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 950 ponds and tanks not in use are a recharge opportunity going to waste.

Groundwater level in Ratlam

Bringing a pond in Ratlam 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 pondPond rejuvenation: cost and processOther ways to recharge

Frequently asked questions

How many ponds are there in Ratlam?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 1,534 ponds in Ratlam district, out of 1,546 water bodies in all. That is the 20th most ponds of 49 districts in Madhya Pradesh counted by the census.

How many lakes are there in Ratlam?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies recorded no lakes or reservoirs in Ratlam district; its 1,546 water bodies are mostly ponds and 3 tanks.

How many water bodies in Ratlam are not in use?

950 of the 1,546 water bodies (61%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 57 had been encroached upon.

How do ponds help groundwater in Ratlam?

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 Ratlam running out?

In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Ratlam district pumped out 133% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("over-exploited").

Ponds in other districts of Madhya Pradesh

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

  1. 1Balaghat5,011 water bodies, 43% not in use5,003
  2. 2Katni4,103 water bodies, 99% not in use4,098
  3. 3Shahdol3,853 water bodies, 10% not in use3,762
  4. 4Betul3,776 water bodies, 77% not in use3,653
  5. 5Seoni3,622 water bodies, 50% not in use3,548
  6. 6Vidisha3,233 water bodies, 51% not in use3,233
  7. 7Dhar3,261 water bodies, 66% not in use3,125
  8. 8Anuppur2,962 water bodies, 41% not in use2,958
  9. 9Mandla2,773 water bodies, 35% not in use2,767
  10. 10Panna2,771 water bodies, 75% not in use2,736
  11. 11Dewas2,688 water bodies, 35% not in use2,657
  12. 12Sehore2,516 water bodies, 36% not in use2,379
  13. 13Umaria2,339 water bodies, 60% not in use2,240
  14. 14Chhatarpur2,242 water bodies, 53% not in use2,233
  15. 15Ashoknagar2,182 water bodies, 39% not in use2,182
  16. 16Singrauli2,115 water bodies, 60% not in use2,113
  17. 17Ujjain1,711 water bodies, 58% not in use1,644
  18. 18Tikamgarh1,627 water bodies, 42% not in use1,627
  19. 19Morena1,633 water bodies, 83% not in use1,625
  20. 20Dindori1,520 water bodies, 20% not in use1,518
  21. 21Neemuch1,463 water bodies, 71% not in use1,457
  22. 22Gwalior1,496 water bodies, 96% not in use1,328
  23. 23Guna1,212 water bodies, 69% not in use1,202
  24. 24Shivpuri1,199 water bodies, 97% not in use1,196
  25. 25Jhabua1,020 water bodies, 38% not in use1,002
  26. 26Hoshangabad1,008 water bodies, 42% not in use983
  27. 27Sagar1,157 water bodies, 53% not in use929
  28. 28Raisen933 water bodies, 51% not in use918
  29. 29Khargone899 water bodies, 5% not in use887
  30. 30Datia956 water bodies, 71% not in use882
  31. 31Alirajpur803 water bodies, 61% not in use802
  32. 32Bhind1,604 water bodies, 80% not in use732
  33. 33Rajgarh711 water bodies, 33% not in use700
  34. 34Agar Malwa692 water bodies, 63% not in use667
  35. 35Indore636 water bodies, 67% not in use635
  36. 36Damoh578 water bodies, 11% not in use576
  37. 37Narsinghpur564 water bodies, 85% not in use532
  38. 38Mandsaur527 water bodies, 54% not in use519
  39. 39Niwari537 water bodies, 71% not in use512
  40. 40Shajapur462 water bodies, 75% not in use454
  41. 41Sheopur408 water bodies, 72% not in use408
  42. 42Bhopal390 water bodies, 56% not in use377
  43. 43Sidhi337 water bodies, 62% not in use336
  44. 44Jabalpur313 water bodies, 56% not in use312
  45. 45Khandwa318 water bodies, 65% not in use309
  46. 46Barwani149 water bodies, 34% not in use147
  47. 47Burhanpur106 water bodies, 77% not in use106
  48. 48Harda44 water bodies, 91% not in use40

All ponds and lakes in Madhya Pradesh