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Ponds and lakes · Tamil Nadu

Ponds and lakes in Theni

52ponds, out of 1,361 water bodies

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 1,361 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Theni district. 1,131 of them (83%) were not in use and 33 had been encroached upon. Theni has the 26th most ponds of the 27 districts in Tamil Nadu the census counted.

Every water body the census counted in Theni

1,131 of 1,361 water bodies (83%) 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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  • Ponds52
  • Tanks91
  • Lakes68
  • Reservoirs7
  • Check dams and percolation tanks1,132
  • Others11

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

Why Theni's ponds matter for its groundwater

84%Semi-critical

Theni pumps out 84% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year (2025, Central Ground Water Board), which the board rates semi-critical. Every pond that holds rain long enough for it to soak in puts some of that water back, so the 1,131 ponds and tanks not in use are a recharge opportunity going to waste.

Groundwater level in Theni

Bringing a pond in Theni 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 Theni?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 52 ponds in Theni district, out of 1,361 water bodies in all. That is the 26th most ponds of 27 districts in Tamil Nadu counted by the census.

How many lakes are there in Theni?

The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 68 lakes and 7 reservoirs in Theni district, along with 91 tanks.

How many water bodies in Theni are not in use?

1,131 of the 1,361 water bodies (83%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 33 had been encroached upon.

How do ponds help groundwater in Theni?

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 Theni running out?

In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Theni district pumped out 84% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("semi-critical").

Ponds in other districts of Tamil Nadu

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

  1. 1Ramanathapuram10,292 water bodies, 20% not in use5,237
  2. 2Pudukkottai7,575 water bodies, 45% not in use3,063
  3. 3Sivagangai10,032 water bodies, 41% not in use2,482
  4. 4Thiruvarur6,524 water bodies, 10% not in use2,144
  5. 5Thanjavur4,564 water bodies, 39% not in use2,021
  6. 6Cuddalore3,810 water bodies, 69% not in use1,902
  7. 7Tiruvannamalai5,021 water bodies, 57% not in use1,815
  8. 8Virudhunagar3,707 water bodies, 37% not in use1,567
  9. 9Tiruvallur3,758 water bodies, 57% not in use1,229
  10. 10Kanniyakumari2,532 water bodies, 11% not in use1,203
  11. 11Tiruchirappalli2,875 water bodies, 80% not in use1,190
  12. 12Ariyalur2,293 water bodies, 43% not in use1,051
  13. 13Madurai2,295 water bodies, 60% not in use693
  14. 14Namakkal1,061 water bodies, 67% not in use657
  15. 15Erode1,168 water bodies, 48% not in use652
  16. 16Coimbatore939 water bodies, 85% not in use615
  17. 17Tiruppur776 water bodies, 31% not in use568
  18. 18Perambalur1,078 water bodies, 58% not in use442
  19. 19Karur1,034 water bodies, 66% not in use438
  20. 20Krishnagiri1,719 water bodies, 55% not in use381
  21. 21Thoothukudi1,278 water bodies, 44% not in use342
  22. 22Dharmapuri1,225 water bodies, 69% not in use274
  23. 23Salem896 water bodies, 47% not in use243
  24. 24Dindigul2,350 water bodies, 72% not in use236
  25. 25Chennai305 water bodies, 48% not in use142
  26. 26The Nilgiris98 water bodies, 1% not in use0

All ponds and lakes in Tamil Nadu