Urban Insights

from

India's 1st Water Bodies

Census Report

What is a Water Body?

(As per the report)

All natural or man-made units bounded on all sides with some or no masonry work, being used for storing water, for irrigation or other purposes (e.g. industrial, pisciculture, domestic/drinking, recreation, religious, groundwater recharge etc.) are treated as water bodies in this Census.

These are usually of various types and known by different names like tanks, reservoirs, ponds and bundhis etc. A structure where water from ice-melts, streams, springs, rains or water drained from residential or other areas is accumulated or stored by diversion from a stream, nalaah or river is to be treated as a water body.

Snapshot of Water Bodies in India

Web-based Tool

24,24,540

water bodies have been enumerated in the country in the 1st water bodies census

State with the maximum number of water bodies

West Bengal

30.8%

7,47,480

Urban

3%

Urban vs Rural Water Bodies

3% of all the waterbodies are in urban areas.

Rural Water Bodies are dominating in India's water bodies scenario. They support agriculture, biodiversity, and recreation, with lesser pollution but still require conservation for ecological integrity and rural livelihoods.

While Urban Water Bodies are vital as they provide ecosystem services to the city. They are used in supplying water, managing stormwater, recharging groundwater, and acting as sponges to mitigate floods and also providing recreational opportunities. However, they face extreme challenge of pollution and habitat degradation. Majority of them require attention and are in need to be valued for maintaining the urban ecosystem.

India's Urban Water Bodies

water bodies are in urban areas

Types of Urban Water Bodies

Lakes

1.6%

Others

1.4%

*WCS/PTs/CDs:

Water Conservation Schemes/Percolation Tanks/Check Dams

Uses of

Urban Water Bodies

'In Use'

'Not In Use'

Groundwater

Gujarat

Maharashtra

are majorly using their urban water bodies for the groundwater recharge

Religious

2.6%

Recreational

1.9%

28% of the urban water bodies in

West Bengal

are being used for industrial purpose

Most of the

North-East States

Tripura (100%), Assam (91%), Nagaland (91%), Meghalaya (75%), Mizoram (73%) and Arunachal Pradesh (52%)

are majorly using their urban water bodies for pisciculture and therefore their livelihood are dependant on these water bodies

Himachal Pradesh

(84%)

J&K

(82%)

Manipur

(71%)

Sikkim

(64%)

are primarily using their urban water bodies for domestic or drinking purpose

Urban Water Bodies In Use w.r.t. Total Urban Water Bodies

States like

are using almost 100% of their urban water bodies primarily for domestic/drinking (Chandigarh and Manipur), pisciculture (Tripura) and groundwater recharge (Maharashtra).

States with least number of 'In Use' urban water bodies and their reason

*'Others' category is not defined in the report

Natural vs. Artificial Urban Water Bodies

Earthen water bodies are inherently more sustainable and environment-friendly. They work in harmony with the natural landscape, allowing for natural water filtration, groundwater recharge, and maintenance of local ecosystems. Concrete and masonry structures, on the other hand, disrupt natural drainage patterns, impede groundwater recharge, and can have negative impacts on aquatic habitats and biodiversity.

Statewise Distribution of Natural and Artificial Water Bodies in Urban Area

Total No. of urban water bodies

Population Directly Benefitted from the Urban Water Bodies

Number of urban water bodies in different states that directly benefit >1,000 people

No. of People Benefitted w.r.t. No. of Water Bodies In Use

In Tamil Nadu, the number of people benefitted per 'In Use' urban water body is highest in the country.

States like West Bengal, Kerala, Tripura, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh are using a large number of their urban water bodies but the population it is benefitting is comparatively less.

However, in states and UTs like Tamil Nadu, Andra Pradesh, Chandigarh number of people getting benefitted per urban water body is much higher.

Encroachment of Urban Water Bodies

3%

of India's urban water bodies are encroached.

>50%

Most of the water bodies are encroached by

of their total area.

Addressing encroachment of water bodies in urban areas is crucial for sustainable water management, flood mitigation, climate resilience, and the well-being of communities.

It requires proactive planning, policy enforcement, public awareness, and stakeholder engagement to ensure the protection and preservation of the valuable natural assets.

Limitations

• Some Union Territories i.e. Ladakh, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep are not considered in this report.

• No City/Town is considered in Haryana for Urban Water Body Analysis.

• The limitation is also related to the total number of towns/cities considered in the states indicating that the data might not represent all urban areas within a state, potentially leading to a partial understanding of the urban water body scenario.
  

• Water quality data has not been collected which is one of the important aspects to consider while analyzing water bodies.

• It's important to note that the specific findings and conclusions from the analysis may vary depending on the actual data presented in the Indian Urban Water Bodies Census Report. The report itself should be referred to for more detailed and accurate information.
  

Urban Growth and Implications

NIUA's

Urban Water Body Diagnostic Tool

The web tool is meant to help city officials to identify and prioritise actions for rejuvenation of water bodies within their cities.

The diagnostic tool is based on assessing the status quo of urban water bodies, in terms of various physical, chemical, biological, and management parameters. Importantly, the tool helps in conducting a rapid assessment that a city can perform easily and periodically, in order to identify immediate actions for their management.