Water Bodies – First Census Report (Volume 1)

The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti released this first volume of the Water Bodies – First Census Report on April 25, 2023. Volume 1 gives an overview of the census with tables depicting all-India distribution of water bodies and their urban and rural division. Volume 2 provides state-wise details with each section focusing on an individual state and union territory.The report states that India is shifting from being a country with an abundance of water to one facing water scarcity due to increasing population and urbanization. As such, an overview of available water resources in the country becomes crucial. Initially, the Department of Water Resources only monitored water bodies receiving central assistance. To rectify this limitation, the Committee recommended the creation of a comprehensive database. The first water bodies census was thus conducted alongside the 6th Minor Irrigation Census in 2018-19.The census considers “all natural or man-made units bound on all sides with some or no masonry work used for storing water for irrigation or other purposes” as water bodies. Additionally, “a structure where water from ice-melt, streams, springs, rain or drainage of water from residential and other areas is accumulated or water is stored by diversion from a stream, nala or river” is also treated as a water body...