Top 5 states in terms of number of water bodies; check Odisha and other state’s facts
For the first time in the history of the country, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has conducted the first-ever census of water bodies across the nation.
West Bengal has highest number of water bodies followed by Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Assam.
A total of 24,24,540 water bodies have been enumerated in India, out of which 97.1 per cent (23,55,055) are in rural areas and only 2.9 per cent (69,485) are in urban areas, the census said
The census revealed that 1,81,837 water bodies have been enumerated in Odisha. Among these, 97.9% (1,78,054) are in rural areas and the remaining 2.1% (3,783) in urban areas. About 50.9% (92,575) water bodies are privately owned while the remaining 49.1% (89,262) are under public ownership.
It further stated that 31.3% (56,900) water bodies are located in tribal areas and the remaining 68.7% (1,24,937) in areas under Drought Prone Area Programme, flood-prone areas and Maoist-affected areas. While 89.2% (1,62,207) water bodies are in use the rest 10.8% (19,630) had either dried up or rendered useless due siltation or salinity or destroyed beyond repair.
Odisha was also among the top five states where water bodies were used in pisciculture.
