Urban Water Bodies in India: Challenges, Initiatives, and NIUA's UWD Tool

Introduction

"The city of Bengaluru once boasted over 1,800 lakes; today, barely 200 remain."

This stark reality reflects the plight of urban water bodies across India. These vital ecological assets weave through our cities, delivering essential benefits from flood protection to cultural connections. Yet, they are rapidly disappearing from our urban landscapes. According to India's first Waterbody Census Report released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, urban water bodies are vanishing at an alarming rate— falling victim to pollution, encroachment, and neglect.

This article examines the current state of urban water bodies in India and introduces an innovative solution developed by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA): the Urban Water Body Diagnostic Tool (UWD). This comprehensive assessment system provides city officials and researchers with a practical method to evaluate water body health and prioritize restoration efforts, potentially transforming how we manage these precious resources.

What is a water body?

A water body refers to any significant accumulation of water on Earth—from vast oceans and lakes to smaller ponds, rivers, streams, and canals. In urban contexts, water bodies include streams, canals, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, and lakes, both natural and human-made.

The Waterbody Census Report defines water bodies as all-natural or human-made units bounded on all sides with some or no masonry work, being used for storing water, for irrigation or other purposes (e.g. industrial, pisciculture, domestic/drinking, recreation, religious, groundwater recharge etc.) These are usually of various types and known by different names like tanks, reservoirs, ponds bundhis etc. A structure where water from ice melts, streams, springs, rains or water drained from residential or other areas is accumulated or stored by diversion from a stream, nalah or river is to be treated as a water body.

The current state of urban water bodies

Urban water bodies serve as vital components of city ecosystems, offering multiple benefits. They help regulate floods, supply water, provide spaces for social and cultural activities, offer recreational opportunities, and contribute to environmental health through groundwater recharge and biodiversity conservation.

Despite these critical functions, many urban water bodies face severe challenges. They act as "sponges" that mitigate floods and recharge groundwater, yet they suffer from extreme pollution and habitat degradation. The majority require urgent attention and must be valued as essential elements of urban ecosystems.

Earthen water bodies still dominate the landscape, comprising more than 75% of total urban water bodies in India. These natural formations are inherently sustainable, working in harmony with the environment by facilitating natural water filtration, groundwater recharge, and ecosystem maintenance.

However, there's growing concern about the increasing use of concrete and masonry structures. These artificial interventions disrupt natural drainage patterns, hinder groundwater recharge, and negatively impact aquatic habitats and biodiversity. While many recent rejuvenation projects have employed these approaches, they've often failed to deliver the desired ecological outcomes. Nature-based solutions that preserve natural ecosystems are essential for improving the overall health and functionality of urban water bodies.

Figure 1: State-wise distribution of urban water bodies in India (Water Body Census Report, 2023)

The report reveals concerning utilization patterns across states. While Chandigarh (100%), Tripura (99.9%), Maharashtra (99.7%), and Manipur (99.3%) effectively use almost all their urban water bodies for specific purposes—domestic/drinking water (Chandigarh and Manipur), pisciculture (Tripura), and groundwater recharge (Maharashtra)—most other states significantly underutilize these resources.

Figure 2: State wise encroachment of urban water bodies (Water Body Census Report, 2023)

Encroachment stands as a major threat to urban water bodies. The report notes that most encroached water bodies have lost more than 50% of their original area. This dramatic reduction profoundly impacts groundwater recharge, micro-climate regulation, air quality, and overall water security. Recognizing these concerns, the AMRUT 2.0 Mission emphasizes the protection and revival of water bodies as integral to enhancing urban water security.

Call to action: Government of India initiatives

Recognizing the need to protect and restore water bodies, the Government of India has launched several key initiatives. The AMRUT 2.0 Mission, launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, prioritizes the rejuvenation of urban water bodies, acknowledging their critical role in enhancing water security for rapidly growing urban areas facing climate uncertainties. Complementing this, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, launched in 2019 and followed by "Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain" in 2021, focuses on the revival of traditional water bodies through enumeration, geo-tagging, removal of encroachments from tanks and lakes, and de-silting efforts. Furthermore, the Mission Amrit Sarovar, launched in April 2022 as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, aims to develop and rejuvenate 75 water bodies in each district nationwide, operating through state and district authorities while involving citizen and non-government resources. Additionally, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) includes provisions for public works related to natural resource management, specifically water conservation structures to augment groundwater. 

While the primary responsibility for planning, funding, execution, and maintenance of water bodies rests with state governments, the central government provides crucial technical support and, in some cases, partial financial assistance through these existing schemes to bolster state-led restoration efforts.

NIUA's initiative: The urban water body diagnostic tool

The National Institute of Urban Affairs, in collaboration with UNESCO, has developed the Urban Water Body Diagnostic Tool—a comprehensive solution designed to assist city officials, researchers, and administrators in assessing water body conditions and prioritizing rehabilitation efforts.

Understanding the urban water body diagnostic tool

The tool takes a holistic approach, evaluating urban water bodies across four crucial dimensions:

Physical – Assessing structural elements and immediate surroundings

Chemical – Evaluating water quality parameters

Biological – Measuring ecosystem health and biodiversity

Management – Analyzing governance and maintenance practices

Figure 3: Key design principles of the NIUA's Urban Waterbody Diagnostic Tool showing the four assessment dimensions

This comprehensive framework employs both outcome-based indicators (measuring current conditions) and process-based indicators (evaluating ongoing practices) to provide a complete picture of water body health. Unlike many existing approaches that focus on isolated parameters, this tool bridges a critical knowledge gap by offering an integrated assessment system.

The tool's rapid assessment capability is particularly important, recognizing the practical challenges of monitoring thousands of water bodies across Indian cities. This feature makes regular monitoring more feasible and sustainable.

Practical application of the tool

The diagnostic tool applies to all urban water bodies with an area of one acre or larger, aligning with protection measures recommended in numerous Master Plans across India. It also adheres to buffer norms specified in these plans, emphasizing a buffer of at least nine meters for smaller water bodies and 30 meters for larger ones.

Figure 4: Practical application framework showing how the tool evaluates water bodies across multiple parameters

Tailoring for local specificities

While designed as a versatile solution applicable to any city, the tool recognizes that certain water bodies have unique characteristics. For example, coastal wetlands with their distinct features may require additional considerations. Cities with specific water body functions are encouraged to supplement the tool with locally relevant indicators.

It's important to note that the Urban Water Body Diagnostic Tool serves as a rapid assessment aid, providing an initial snapshot of a water body's status. For comprehensive rehabilitation planning, cities may need to conduct more detailed analyses based on the tool's preliminary findings.

The web-based tool: A technological leap

The Urban Waterbody Diagnostic Tool is available as a user-friendly web-based platform, making water body assessment more accessible and efficient. Key features include:

• Interactive geospatial maps for visualizing water body locations and conditions
• Automated calculation of numerous indicators, streamlining the analysis process
• Step-by-step guidance for users conducting assessments
• Comprehensive reporting capabilities to support decision-making

Figure 5: A view of the web-based tool showing the user interface and analysis features

The platform guides users through a systematic assessment process, from initial login through data collection and analysis, presenting results in easy-to-understand formats that support informed decision-making.

To access and use the tool, visit: uwdtool.in

Conclusion: A path towards sustainable urban water management

The growing threats to India's urban water bodies demand immediate, coordinated action. NIUA's Urban Water Body Diagnostic Tool represents a significant step forward in addressing these challenges by providing city officials, planners, and environmental agencies with a practical method to assess water body health and prioritize restoration efforts.

For city administrators, the tool offers a standardized framework to inventory water bodies, monitor their condition, and make data-driven decisions about resource allocation. For researchers and environmental organizations, it provides a consistent methodology to track changes over time and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

Citizens can also have a vital role to play. By engaging with local authorities, participating in water body monitoring programs using this tool, and advocating for preservation of these resources, community members can help ensure these natural assets survive for future generations.

As cities continue to expand and climate change intensifies, tools like this will become increasingly essential. The Urban Water Body Diagnostic Tool exemplifies how technological innovation, combined with ecological understanding, can help cities better manage their water resources, transforming the way we perceive, protect, and revitalize these vital urban ecosystems.