Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in South Garo Hills
515ponds, out of 747 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 747 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in South Garo Hills district. 132 of them (18%) were not in use and 0 had been encroached upon. South Garo Hills has the 8th most ponds of the 8 districts in Meghalaya the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in South Garo Hills
132 of 747 water bodies (18%) 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 Garo Hills…
- Ponds515
- Lakes20
- Reservoirs11
- Check dams and percolation tanks200
- Others1
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why South Garo Hills's ponds matter for its groundwater
1.2%Safe
South Garo Hills pumps out 1.2% 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 Garo Hills 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 Garo Hills?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 515 ponds in South Garo Hills district, out of 747 water bodies in all. That is the 8th most ponds of 8 districts in Meghalaya counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in South Garo Hills?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 20 lakes and 11 reservoirs in South Garo Hills district, along with 0 tanks.
How many water bodies in South Garo Hills are not in use?
132 of the 747 water bodies (18%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 0 had been encroached upon.
How do ponds help groundwater in South Garo Hills?
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 Garo Hills running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, South Garo Hills district pumped out 1% 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.
- 1Ri Bhoi2,677 water bodies, 1% not in use2,144
- 2West Garo Hills2,335 water bodies, 5% not in use1,952
- 3North Garo Hills1,304 water bodies, 4% not in use1,296
- 4West Jaintia Hills1,640 water bodies, 6% not in use1,017
- 5West Khasi Hills1,158 water bodies, 4% not in use1,007
- 6South West Khasi Hills678 water bodies, 1% not in use625
- 7South West Garo Hills625 water bodies, 30% not in use550