Srinagar, April 24 -- The first-ever census has revealed around 76 percent of water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir are 'in use', while over 23 percent have 'dried up beyond repair'.

For the first time in India, the government has conducted the census of water bodies under the centrally sponsored scheme, "Irrigation Census". It provides a comprehensive inventory of India's water resources, including natural and man-made water bodies like ponds, tanks, lakes, and more. It also collects data on the encroachment of water bodies.

According to the census, there are around 24 lakh water bodies across the country. In the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir, there are over 9,700 water bodies out of which over 76 percent (7, 493) are 'in use' while o...