Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Ri Bhoi
2,144ponds, out of 2,677 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 2,677 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Ri Bhoi district. 14 of them (1%) were not in use and 2 had been encroached upon. Ri Bhoi has the most ponds of the 8 districts in Meghalaya the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in Ri Bhoi
14 of 2,677 water bodies (1%) 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 Ri Bhoi…
- Ponds2,144
- Tanks32
- Lakes1
- Reservoirs16
- Check dams and percolation tanks475
- Others9
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why Ri Bhoi's ponds matter for its groundwater
6.1%Safe
Ri Bhoi pumps out 6.1% 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 Ri Bhoi 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 Ri Bhoi?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 2,144 ponds in Ri Bhoi district, out of 2,677 water bodies in all. That is the 1st most ponds of 8 districts in Meghalaya counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in Ri Bhoi?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 1 lake and 16 reservoirs in Ri Bhoi district, along with 32 tanks.
How many water bodies in Ri Bhoi are not in use?
14 of the 2,677 water bodies (1%) 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 Ri Bhoi?
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 Ri Bhoi running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Ri Bhoi district pumped out 6% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Meghalaya
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.
- 1West Garo Hills2,335 water bodies, 5% not in use1,952
- 2North Garo Hills1,304 water bodies, 4% not in use1,296
- 3West Jaintia Hills1,640 water bodies, 6% not in use1,017
- 4West Khasi Hills1,158 water bodies, 4% not in use1,007
- 5South West Khasi Hills678 water bodies, 1% not in use625
- 6South West Garo Hills625 water bodies, 30% not in use550
- 7South Garo Hills747 water bodies, 18% not in use515