NEW DELHI, SEP 29 (PTI): The second part of the country’s first-ever spring census has enumerated 14,468 springs across 10 states, with Manipur and Maharashtra accounting for the largest number of such water sources, according to a report of the Jal Shakti Ministry.
The report was released at the valedictory ceremony of the ninth India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam on September 25.
The census identified 3,941 springs in Manipur, 3,652 in Maharashtra, 1,957 in Odisha, 1,686 in West Bengal, 1,196 in Goa, 1,049 in Tripura, 792 in Assam, 148 in Telangana, 34 in Andhra Pradesh and 13 in Rajasthan. The report, titled ‘First Census of Springs (Volume II, Part-II)’, covers Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tripura and West Bengal.
The report calls for systematic mapping to identify vulnerable and critical springs, ensure their protection during infrastructure development and facilitate preparation of detailed project reports for springshed management programmes.
An earlier Volume II report covering Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu was published on India Water Day 2026.
According to the report, Maharashtra has 2,629 perennial, 909 seasonal and 114 dried springs. Of its 3,652 springs, 3,612 are located in rural areas and 40 in urban areas. About 86.5 per cent are publicly owned and 13.5 per cent privately owned. Of 3,508 springs assessed for resource threats, 265, or 7.6 per cent, face threats. Manipur has 3,419 perennial, 457 seasonal and 65 dried springs among its 3,941 inventoried springs. In the northeastern state, 91.4 per cent springs are publicly owned. Of the springs assessed for resource threats, 1,336, or 34.5 per cent, face threats. In the state, residents use 3,127 springs, while 634 are used by non-residents and 113 by wild animals. According to the report, Odisha has 1,957 springs, including 1,568 perennial, 315 seasonal and 74 dried springs. Nearly 96 per cent are publicly owned and 99.2 per cent are located in rural areas. Of 1,878 springs assessed for resource threats, 295, or 15.7 per cent, face threats.
Similarly, West Bengal has 1,686 springs, including 1,568 in rural areas and 118 in urban areas. Darjeeling accounts for 1,200 springs and Kalimpong for 427. The report says springs constitute an important source of drinking water in many rural and tribal communities in these districts.
Out of 1,196 springs in Goa, 1,105 are perennial, 66 seasonal and 25 dried springs. Of these, 662 are publicly owned and 509 privately owned. Resource threats are reported in 61 springs, or 5.2 per cent of those assessed.
In Tripura, 661 are perennial springs, 378 seasonal and 10 dried ones. All such water sources in the state are in rural areas. The highest number was recorded in Dhalai at 398, followed by North Tripura at 238 and Khowai at 205.
Assam recorded 792 springs, of which 587 are in rural areas and 205 in urban areas. It has 662 perennial, 127 seasonal and three dried springs. Of 784 springs assessed for resource threats, 41, or 5.2 per cent, face threats.
In the state, residents use 667 springs, non-residents 91 and wild animals 26, says the report.
Telangana recorded 148 springs, including 126 perennial, 18 seasonal and four dried springs, while Andhra Pradesh recorded 34 springs, all in rural areas. All 34 springs in Andhra Pradesh are seep-type and seasonal, and are publicly owned.
Rajasthan recorded 13 springs, of which 10 are in rural areas and three in urban areas. Eight are perennial and five seasonal, while all 13 are publicly owned, according to the report.
Citing the 2018 report of a NITI Aayog Working Group on ‘Inventory and Revival of Springs in the Himalayas for Water Security’, the report says 15 per cent, or about 200 million, of the country’s population relies directly or indirectly on spring water to meet its requirements.
The report notes that the 23rd Report (2022-23) of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources urged the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to take measures for the revival and sustainable management of springs in mountainous regions.
The department subsequently constituted a steering committee on springshed mapping of the Indian Himalayan Region and other mountainous regions to expedite springshed management work. The committee identified the absence of a systematic mechanism, uniform formats and standardised techniques for spring and springshed mapping as a key constraint.
The first spring census was undertaken concurrently with the seventh Minor Irrigation Census, second Census of Water Bodies and first census of Major and Medium Irrigation Projects, with 2023-24 as the reference year.
The objective of spring census was to generate reliable, standardised and geo-referenced data on springs for evidence-based planning, scientific springshed management and policy formulation.
The exercise was conducted entirely in digital mode, with data captured through an Android-based mobile application and managed through a centralised web platform.
In his message accompanying the report, Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil said establishing a systematic database and undertaking periodic monitoring was essential for managing spring resources, developing springshed management projects and advancing scientific understanding of spring systems.
The report is intended to serve as a reference for policymakers and implementing agencies for planning and executing springshed management interventions in the 10 states covered by it.
Thursday, October 1, 2026