Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Surajpur
85ponds, out of 100 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 100 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Surajpur district. 29 of them (29%) were not in use and 0 had been encroached upon. Surajpur has the 20th most ponds of the 21 districts in Chhattisgarh the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in Surajpur
29 of 100 water bodies (29%) 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 Surajpur…
- Ponds85
- Tanks4
- Reservoirs3
- Check dams and percolation tanks1
- Others7
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why Surajpur's ponds matter for its groundwater
64%Safe
Surajpur pumps out 64% 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 Surajpur 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 Surajpur?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 85 ponds in Surajpur district, out of 100 water bodies in all. That is the 20th most ponds of 21 districts in Chhattisgarh counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in Surajpur?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 0 lakes and 3 reservoirs in Surajpur district, along with 4 tanks.
How many water bodies in Surajpur are not in use?
29 of the 100 water bodies (29%) 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 Surajpur?
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 Surajpur running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Surajpur district pumped out 64% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Chhattisgarh
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.
- 1Mahasamund2,760 water bodies, 22% not in use2,683
- 2Raipur2,624 water bodies, 10% not in use2,585
- 3Balod1,800 water bodies, 9% not in use1,745
- 4Dhamtari1,741 water bodies, 7% not in use1,715
- 5Gariaband1,683 water bodies, 11% not in use1,652
- 6Mungeli1,593 water bodies, 10% not in use1,578
- 7Bemetara1,616 water bodies, 13% not in use1,560
- 8Jashpur1,552 water bodies, 20% not in use1,464
- 9Kabirdham1,536 water bodies, 20% not in use1,438
- 10Durg1,432 water bodies, 23% not in use1,364
- 11Kanker1,449 water bodies, 13% not in use1,348
- 12Kondagaon1,391 water bodies, 17% not in use1,305
- 13Korba819 water bodies, 7% not in use796
- 14Bastar652 water bodies, 13% not in use639
- 15Balrampur643 water bodies, 30% not in use621
- 16Surguja608 water bodies, 18% not in use541
- 17Narayanpur220 water bodies, 85% not in use204
- 18Dantewada188 water bodies, 7% not in use177
- 19Bijapur170 water bodies, 19% not in use168
- 20Sukma20 water bodies, 30% not in use20