Quality status and optimum utilisation of village pond water--a case study.

The village ponds, which used to be useful institutions have become a source of nuisance and environmental pollution. Therefore, an effort was made to determine the quality of water stored in village ponds and to develop a strategy for its optimum utilization. Two village ponds were selected randomly in each block of Ludhiana district of Punjab State for detailed investigations. The comparative study of the quality of pond water vis-a-vis, quality standards for irrigation and rearing of fish has revealed that the quality of pond water is not only suitable for irrigation and development of fisheries, but also rich in nutrients, which is an added advantage. The study has revealed that the renovation of village ponds will have positive affect on environment, rural economy and ground water regime in declining water table areas.