Archive · 9 Dec 2025
Neglected Water-Bodies Fuel India's Flood Woes
India has many small water-bodies like tanks and ponds that used to help manage rainwater.
But over time, these have been neglected, encroached upon, and not maintained properly.
This means that when it rains a lot, especially during the monsoon, the water has nowhere to go and causes floods.
Cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad often face waterlogging because of this.
The government and local communities need to work together to restore these water-bodies to prevent future floods and ensure water security.
India's traditional water-storage systems, including tanks and ponds, have deteriorated, leading to increased flood risks during monsoons.
Tamil Nadu has about 41,127 tanks with a combined storage capacity of 347 tmc, but many are non-functional due to encroachments and poor maintenance.
The tank-irrigated area in Tamil Nadu has declined from 9.36 lakh hectares in 1960-61 to 3.99 lakh hectares in 2022-23.
India has about 5.92 lakh tanks, of which 72,853 are not in use, primarily due to encroachments and poor maintenance.
Restoring tanks and their drainage networks is crucial for India's water security, agricultural stability, and climate resilience.
- Who
- Indian government, public authorities, and local communities
- What
- Neglect and encroachment of water-bodies leading to increased flood risks
- When
- Ongoing issue, exacerbated during monsoon seasons
- Where
- Across India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra
- Why
- Systemic deterioration of tanks, feeder channels, and drainage pathways, along with encroachments and poor maintenance
- Total tanks in Tamil Nadu
- 41,127
- Combined storage capacity of Tamil Nadu tanks
- 347 tmc
- Tank irrigated area in Tamil Nadu (1960-61)
- 9.36 lakh hectares
- Tank irrigated area in Tamil Nadu (2022-23)
- 3.99 lakh hectares
- Total tanks in India
- 5.92 lakh
- Non-functional tanks in India
- 72,853
- Encroached water-bodies in India
- 15%
- Encroached tanks in Tamil Nadu
- 7,828