Kutch restores identity to 910 lost water bodies

Rajkot: In a major step towards water conservation in the semi-arid region of Kutch, the district revenue department successfully formalised 910 previously unregistered ponds and natural water bodies spread across 281 villages.The initiative launched after a group of environmental activists published a report in 2023 highlighting the rapid disappearance of water bodies in Bhuj. The report stated that Bhuj had around 80 water bodies before Independence, but only 38 exist today, of which just 11 were officially notified as lakes in govt records.
Taking note of the findings, the Kutch district administration began a comprehensive drive to identify, measure, and legally record natural water bodies that remained outside official land records for decades.The administration adopted a scientific and legally robust approach. The District Inspector of Land Records (DILR) office carried out precise measurements using modern techniques to demarcate pond boundaries. Officials said the aim was to eliminate ambiguity, prevent future encroachments, and avoid boundary disputes.In Bhuj city alone, 21 ponds are now formally recorded in govt documents, and their management was handed over to the concerned local bodies.Ponds located on gauchar (grazing) land were transferred to the district panchayat to ensure local supervision and community participation. The forest department was tasked with undertaking tree plantation around the formalised ponds to strengthen local ecosystems and reduce soil erosion.Collector Anand Patel also directed the irrigation and forest departments to prepare structured water conservation projects. With the ponds now officially recorded, departments can access various govt schemes for development and maintenance.