Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in South Andaman
622ponds, out of 639 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 639 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in South Andaman district. 10 of them (2%) were not in use and 5 had been encroached upon. South Andaman has the 2nd most ponds of the 3 districts in Andaman and Nicobar the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in South Andaman
10 of 639 water bodies (2%) 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 South Andaman…
- Ponds622
- Tanks1
- Lakes5
- Reservoirs3
- Check dams and percolation tanks8
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why South Andaman's ponds matter for its groundwater
3.6%Safe
South Andaman pumps out 3.6% 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 South Andaman 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 South Andaman?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 622 ponds in South Andaman district, out of 639 water bodies in all. That is the 2nd most ponds of 3 districts in Andaman and Nicobar counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in South Andaman?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 5 lakes and 3 reservoirs in South Andaman district, along with 1 tank.
How many water bodies in South Andaman are not in use?
10 of the 639 water bodies (2%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 5 had been encroached upon.
How do ponds help groundwater in South Andaman?
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 South Andaman running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, South Andaman district pumped out 4% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Andaman and Nicobar
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.