Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Jammu and Kashmir
5,256ponds, out of 9,765 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 9,765 water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. 2,272 of them were not in use and 103 had been encroached upon. Pick a district below to see its ponds on a map, village by village.
What the census counted in Jammu and Kashmir
2,272 of 9,765 water bodies (23%) are not in use: dried up, silted, built over or polluted. Bringing them back is one of the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.
9,765ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies
5,256of them are ponds (54%)
77%still in use (7,493)
103encroached upon
- Ponds5,256
- Tanks179
- Lakes37
- Reservoirs441
- Check dams and percolation tanks29
- Others3,823
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Ponds in each district of Jammu and Kashmir
Districts ranked by number of ponds. The bar shows ponds; the line under each name shows all water bodies and how many are not in use.
- 1Kathua3,138 water bodies, 16% not in use1,322
- 2Jammu928 water bodies, 55% not in use888
- 3Udhampur896 water bodies, 24% not in use556
- 4Samba543 water bodies, 76% not in use543
- 5Reasi1,471 water bodies, 11% not in use429
- 6Rajouri761 water bodies, 6% not in use260
- 7Kupwarar270 water bodies, 24% not in use226
- 8Poonch202 water bodies, 44% not in use182
- 9Pulwama225 water bodies, 9% not in use102
- 10Anantnag161 water bodies, 32% not in use72
- 11Doda99 water bodies, 51% not in use68
- 12Kulgam43 water bodies, 23% not in use35
- 13Kishtwar153 water bodies, 8% not in use27
- 14Shopian36 water bodies, 19% not in use24
- 15Ramban45 water bodies, 9% not in use17
- 16Bandipora38 water bodies, 16% not in use11
- 17Budgam12 water bodies, 25% not in use10
- 18Baramulla15 water bodies, 53% not in use6
Groundwater in Jammu and Kashmir
Ponds are one way rain gets back into the ground. See how hard Jammu and Kashmir is pumping its groundwater, district by district.
Bringing a pond in Jammu and Kashmir 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 Jammu and Kashmir?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 5,256 ponds in Jammu and Kashmir, out of 9,765 water bodies in all.
How many lakes are there in Jammu and Kashmir?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 37 lakes and 441 reservoirs in Jammu and Kashmir, along with 179 tanks.
How many water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir are not in use?
2,272 of the 9,765 water bodies (23%) were not in use when counted: dried up, silted, cut off from their catchment, polluted or built over. 103 had been encroached upon.
Which district of Jammu and Kashmir has the most ponds?
Kathua, with 1,322 ponds and 3,138 water bodies in all, according to the 1st Census of Water Bodies.
How do ponds help groundwater in Jammu and Kashmir?
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.