Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Udhampur
556ponds, out of 896 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 896 ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies in Udhampur district. 219 of them (24%) were not in use and 14 had been encroached upon. Udhampur has the 3rd most ponds of the 18 districts in Jammu and Kashmir the census counted.
Every water body the census counted in Udhampur
219 of 896 water bodies (24%) 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 Udhampur…
- Ponds556
- Lakes2
- Others338
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Why Udhampur's ponds matter for its groundwater
21%Safe
Udhampur pumps out 21% 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 Udhampur 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 Udhampur?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 556 ponds in Udhampur district, out of 896 water bodies in all. That is the 3rd most ponds of 18 districts in Jammu and Kashmir counted by the census.
How many lakes are there in Udhampur?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 2 lakes and 0 reservoirs in Udhampur district, along with 0 tanks.
How many water bodies in Udhampur are not in use?
219 of the 896 water bodies (24%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 14 had been encroached upon.
How do ponds help groundwater in Udhampur?
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 Udhampur running out?
In the 2025 Central Ground Water Board assessment, Udhampur district pumped out 21% of the groundwater that can safely be taken out each year ("safe").
Ponds in other districts of Jammu and Kashmir
Districts ranked by number of ponds in the 1st Census of Water Bodies.
- 1Kathua3,138 water bodies, 16% not in use1,322
- 2Jammu928 water bodies, 55% not in use888
- 3Samba543 water bodies, 76% not in use543
- 4Reasi1,471 water bodies, 11% not in use429
- 5Rajouri761 water bodies, 6% not in use260
- 6Kupwarar270 water bodies, 24% not in use226
- 7Poonch202 water bodies, 44% not in use182
- 8Pulwama225 water bodies, 9% not in use102
- 9Anantnag161 water bodies, 32% not in use72
- 10Doda99 water bodies, 51% not in use68
- 11Kulgam43 water bodies, 23% not in use35
- 12Kishtwar153 water bodies, 8% not in use27
- 13Shopian36 water bodies, 19% not in use24
- 14Ramban45 water bodies, 9% not in use17
- 15Bandipora38 water bodies, 16% not in use11
- 16Budgam12 water bodies, 25% not in use10
- 17Baramulla15 water bodies, 53% not in use6