The first water body census of India

26/04/2023

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The first water body census of India

India’s first water body’s census report has been issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti recently. In this report, comprehensive data about base of ponds, tanks, lakes, and reservoirs in the country are summarized.

The census was conducted in 2018-19 and more than 24 lakhs water bodies across all states and Union Territories were recited.

Definition of ‘water body’:

In the first Census report all natural or man-made units bounded on all sides with some or no masonry work used for storing water for irrigation or other purposes (e.g. industrial, pisciculture, domestic/ drinking, recreation, religious, ground water recharge etc.) are considered as water bodies.

According to the report an infrastructure for water from residential or other areas is gathered or water is stored by diversion from a stream, nala or river is treated as water body.

Highest number of water bodies:

South 24 Pargana district from West Bengal has been topped in the district having the highest number of water bodies list across the country.

It is followed by Ananthapur in Andhra Pradesh and Howrah from West Bengal.

The need for a water bodies census:

Earlier the scheme of repair, renovation and restoration has provided the data to the government.

A standing committee of parliament referred to the requirement to execute a separate census of water bodies in 2016.

With the reference of standing committee, the government instituted the first census of water bodies in 2018-19.

The main purpose behind commissioning census is collection of information on all important aspects of the subject including their size, condition, status of encroachments, use, storage capacity, status of filling up of storage etc.