Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: The first-ever census of water bodies in India was released today, outlining over 24 lakh water bodies across the country, and over 9,700 water bodies in the Union Territory of J&K, of which over 76 per cent are ‘in use’ while over 23 per cent have been categorized as ‘not in use’, defining them as ‘dried up beyond repair’.
As per the census, a total of 9,765 water bodies have been enumerated in J&K, out of which 99.2% (9,687) are in rural areas and the remaining 0.8% (78), are in urban areas, noting that the majority of the water bodies are ponds.
As per the major results, 48.6% (4,749) are privately owned water bodies across J&K, whereas the remaining 51.4% (5,016) are under public ownership. By location, 27 water bodies are located in flood-prone areas and 1,144 water bodies are located in tribal areas.
Out of all water bodies, the census noted, 76.7% (7,493) water bodies are ‘in use’ whereas the rest 23.3% (2,272) are not ‘in use,’ “on account of drying up, destroyed beyond repair and other reasons.”
Out of ‘in use’ water bodies, the census highlighted, a major proportion of water bodies are used for domestic/ drinking purposes followed by irrigation purposes.
Further, in J&K, the report stated, there are 36% (3,519) natural and 64% (6,246) man-made water bodies and out of 3,519 natural water bodies, 99.5% (3,502) are located in rural areas whereas the remaining 0.5% (17) are located in urban areas.
“Out of 6,246 man-made water bodies, 99% (6,185) water bodies are located in rural areas and the remaining 1% (61), are situated in urban areas.”
The census also noted that J&K has reported encroachment in 103 water bodies out of all the enumerated water bodies, of which 95, it stated, are ponds. Out of 9,765 water bodies, the information on the ‘water spread area’ was reported in 9,759 water bodies.
Out of these 9,759 water bodies, the results note, 98.4% (9,602) of the water bodies have a water spread area of fewer than 0.5 hectares, whereas, 1.1% (104) water bodies have a water spread area between 0.5 hectares to 1.0 hectares and the remaining 0.5% (53) water bodies have more than one-hectare water spread area; in terms of storage capacity while 74.1% (7,238) water bodies have storage capacity between 0 to 100 Cubic Meters.
Out of all water bodies, the results make it clear that 1.2% (122) are covered in District Irrigation Plan/State Irrigation Plan and among these 44.3% (54) are reservoirs, 31.1% (38) are ponds and the remaining 24.6% (30) are tanks and water conservation schemes/percolation tanks/check dams.
“Out of ‘in use’ water bodies, 93.0% (6,968) are benefitting one city/town, 6.8% (510) water bodies are fulfilling requirements of 2-5 cities/ towns and the remaining 0.2% (15) water bodies are benefitting more than five cities/towns.”
It is to be noted here that in addition to gathering information on the invasion of water bodies, the maiden census offers a thorough inventory of India’s water resources, including both natural and artificial water bodies including ponds, tanks, lakes and more.
The Census also revealed important information about the nation’s water supplies and highlighted differences between rural and urban areas as well as various degrees of encroachment.
The J&K report further highlighted that most of the man-made water bodies have an original cost of construction up to Rs.50,000/-, out of 9,765 water bodies, the information on ‘filled up storage capacity’ and ‘status of filling’ was collected for 5,913 water bodies.
During the reference year 2017-18, it said, out of these 5,913 water bodies, 8.3% (490) water bodies had filled up storage capacity, 14.9% (883) water bodies had storage capacity filled up to three-fourth level, 27.6% (1,630) water bodies had storage capacity filled up to half level, 26.6% (1,576) water bodies had storage capacity filled up to one-fourth level whereas 22.6% (1,334) had nil/negligible storage capacity.
Based on the criteria of filling up of storage capacity during the last 5 years, the census noted, out of 5,913 water bodies, 14.4% (854) water bodies are found to be filled up every year, 21.2% (1,253) are usually filled up, 42.8% (2,528) are rarely filled up and 21.6% (1,278) are never filled up.
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