The recent water body census conducted by the Central government has raised concerns regarding the significant number of missing water bodies in Bihar. According to the findings, approximately 8,940 water bodies that were previously documented in the state are now unaccounted for.
The Ministry of Jal Shakti carried out the Second Census of Water Bodies for several regions, including Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Ladakh, and Sikkim, last year. This census revealed that out of the 45,793 water bodies identified in Bihar in the 2018-19 survey, only 36,856 remain, indicating a troubling decline.
The report indicates that around 45 percent of the existing water bodies are government-owned; however, the state’s revenue and land reforms department lacks data concerning the extent of encroachments—whether complete or partial. An official noted, “We are analyzing the census results and will produce an updated report regarding public ponds free from encroachment.”
According to the census data, a significant 85 percent of these water bodies are located in rural areas. The predominant type of water body is ponds, making up about 91 percent of the total, while the remaining consist of lakes, tanks, reservoirs, check dams, and percolation dams.
From the reported 35,027 ponds in 2018-19, only 33,618 are still in existence, marking a loss of 1,409 ponds. Additionally, the figures indicate a stark decrease in other types of water bodies: tanks have plummeted from 4,221 to 859, lakes from 2,693 to 258, and reservoirs from 2,156 to 315. Of the water bodies that remain, a majority (40.4 percent) are owned by local panchayats, followed by the State Water Resources Department and State Irrigation at 22.3 percent.
The encroachment of these water bodies, often attributed to land mafia activities, poses a serious threat to their preservation. A ruling by the Patna High Court in 2023 identified 1,045 ponds that had been encroached upon within the state.
During a recent Budget Session of the Bihar Assembly, when questioned about the loss of public water bodies, revenue and land reforms minister Vijay Sinha claimed that only five ponds were under encroachment. This statement was challenged by Indian Inclusive Party MLA IP Gupta, who stated, “With the latest census revealing the truth, we will raise this issue again.”
The Second Census of Water Bodies aims to create a robust database to facilitate better planning and policymaking for the conservation and restoration of water bodies.
Santosh Singh has been a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express since June 2008, specializing in coverage of Bihar’s political, social, and governance issues, along with investigative and explanatory journalism. He has amassed 25 years of experience in print media, reporting on regions including Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka.
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