Survey
Map the pond's full original area, its inlets and its catchment, and record encroachments and sewage outfalls.
Ponds and lakes in Sikkim
65ponds, out of 134 water bodies
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 134 water bodies in Sikkim. 13 of them were not in use and 0 had been encroached upon.
What the census counted in Sikkim
13 of 134 water bodies (10%) are not in use: dried up, silted, built over or polluted. Bringing them back is one of the cheapest ways to recharge groundwater.
134ponds, tanks, lakes and other water bodies
65of them are ponds (49%)
90%still in use (121)
0encroached upon
- Ponds65
- Tanks24
- Lakes37
- Reservoirs3
- Check dams and percolation tanks3
- Others2
Source: 1st Census of Water Bodies, Ministry of Jal Shakti (counted in 2018-19, published 2023).
Groundwater in Sikkim
Ponds are one way rain gets back into the ground. See how hard Sikkim is pumping its groundwater, district by district.
Bringing a pond in Sikkim 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 Sikkim?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies (Ministry of Jal Shakti, counted in 2018-19, published 2023) counted 65 ponds in Sikkim, out of 134 water bodies in all.
How many lakes are there in Sikkim?
The 1st Census of Water Bodies counted 37 lakes and 3 reservoirs in Sikkim, along with 24 tanks.
How many water bodies in Sikkim are not in use?
13 of the 134 water bodies (10%) 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 Sikkim?
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.