In a crucial move toward nationwide ecological mapping and groundwater resource management, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has officially released the second volume of India's comprehensive spring and waterfall enumeration study. Unveiled during the valedictory session of the 9th India International Water Week 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 25, the extensive report—titled 'First Census of Springs (Volume-2, Part-2)'—formally identifies and catalogs a total of 14,468 natural water discharge points spread across 10 diverse Indian states. The exhaustive inventory reveals that natural mountain springs and perennial cascading streams serve as vital lifelines for roughly 15 percent of the country’s population, sustaining both day-to-day potable water security and agricultural livelihoods across complex hilly topographies.

State-by-State Breakdown: Manipur and Maharashtra Lead the National Tally

The census findings present a striking regional distribution of natural freshwater springs, with northeastern and western peninsular terrains accounting for the highest concentrations. Manipur tops the national tally with an impressive 3,941 documented springs, followed closely by Maharashtra with 3,652 natural water sources. In eastern India, Odisha registered 1,957 mapped springs, while West Bengal recorded 1,686, and the coastal belt of Goa accounted for 1,196 distinct water bodies. Furthermore, the survey verified 1,049 springs in Tripura, 792 in Assam, 148 across Telangana, 34 in Andhra Pradesh, and 13 within arid Rajasthan. This comprehensive documentation supplements the ministry’s earlier baseline assessments, which previously evaluated the spring ecosystems of Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Sikkim, and Tamil Nadu.

Sustaining 200 Million Citizens: Parliamentary Recommendations Drive Himalayan Spring Rejuvenation

Underscoring the critical socioeconomic weight of these hydrological systems, the census cited the 2018 NITI Aayog Working Group study titled 'Inventory and Revival of Springs in the Himalayas for Water Security,' highlighting that nearly 20 crore (200 million) citizens remain directly or indirectly dependent on spring discharge for their primary survival. Drawing upon the urgent interventions flagged in the 23rd Report (2022-23) of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources, the census outlines strategic mandates for the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to implement structured recharge zone treatments, revive dying catchment areas, and establish sustainable management protocols for springs across India's fragile mountainous regions.