The Water Bodies Census 2023 in India aims to survey and evaluate the nation’s water bodies, including rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Critical information from the study is anticipated to enhance efforts in water management, conservation, and restoration.
Types of water bodies excluded from the census
Oceans and lagoons, free-flowing rivers, streams, springs, waterfalls, canals, etc.; swimming pools; covered water tanks built for a specific purpose by a family or household for their consumption; water tanks built by factory owners for consumption of water as a raw material or consumable; temporary water bodies made by digging for mining, brick kilns, and construction activities; and finally, bodies of water that were created by temporary digging for mining, brick kilns, and construction activities
The necessity of a census of water bodies
The Centre kept track of the water bodies eligible for central funding through the RRR (Repair, Renovation, and Restoration) of the water bodies programme. A Standing Committee of Parliament made the case for conducting a separate census of water bodies in 2016. The government ordered the first water body census and the sixth Minor Irrigation (MI) census in 2018–19. According to the census report, the goal was to gather data on all relevant aspects of the subject, including their size, condition, the status of encroachments, use, storage capacity, the status of filling up of storage, etc.
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Methodology of data collection
The data collection process used a conventional approach, specifically paper-based schedules, implemented in rural and urban areas. To cover all areas efficiently, three distinct schedules were employed, namely, the “village schedule,” “urban schedule,” and “water body schedule.” Furthermore, smartphones were utilized to capture vital details such as the latitude, longitude, and photographs of the water bodies to enhance the accuracy and ease of data collection.
Encroachment of water bodies
The census results revealed that out of the total enumerated water bodies, which amounted to 24,24,540, approximately 1.6%, or 38,496, had been subjected to encroachment. Significantly, more than 95% of the encroached water bodies were located in rural areas, which is not surprising given that more than 97% of the water bodies covered by the census were in rural areas. The analysis further indicated that in almost 63% of the encroached water bodies, less than 25% of the total area was affected by encroachment. In comparison, in about 12% of the water bodies, more than three-quarters of the area had been encroached upon.
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First Census Report: List Of Water Bodies In Rural Areas Across India
Challenges and Opportunities
The 2023 Census of Water Bodies has presented both chances and difficulties. The nation’s real number of water bodies is probably larger than recorded because some were excluded from the census. The information gathered will, nonetheless, be used to develop policies and programmes for preserving and repairing water bodies. A significant obstacle to water body conservation is the level of encroachment on them that the census has shown. This highlights the requirement for stricter enforcement of the legislation governing the protection of water bodies. Overall, the 2023 Water Bodies Census has created new opportunities for investigating and analysing this crucial topic, which should improve the nation’s water body management and conservation efforts.
