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Farm Pond / Water Harvesting Tank

Open earthen farm pond for rainwater harvesting + irrigation use (MGNREGA + PMKSY). Trapezoidal excavation with 1V:1.5H side slopes, banking + compaction with excavated earth, brick inlet/outlet chamber. Sized 25-2,500 m³ per scheme. Rates: CPWD DSR Vol 1 (2023).

Visual confirmation
Plan · 20 × 15 m top
INOUT20 m15 mWater (pond bottom)Bund / embankment
Long elevation · depth 3 m
20 m (top)3 mSide slope 1.5H : 1VNGL
Cross-section · width 15 m, 1.5H : 1V
INLETOUTLET15 m (top)6.0 m (bottom)3 mNGLSide slope 1.5H : 1V (prismoidal-rule volume)
Bill of Quantities4 items · CPWD DSR Vol 1 (2023)
#CodeDescriptionUnitQtyRate (₹)Amount (₹)
12.6.1Bulk ExcavationEarth work in excavation by mechanical means (Hydraulic excavator)/ manual means over areas (exceeding 30 cm in depth, 1.5 m in width as well as 10 sqm on plan) including getting out and disposal of excavated earth lead upto 50 m and for all lift, as directed by Engineer-in-charge. — All kinds of soilCum508.50177.5090,258.75
22.25EmbankmentFilling available excavated earth (excluding rock) in trenches, plinth, sides of foundations etc. in layers not exceeding 20cm in depth, consolidating each deposited layer by ramming and watering, lead up to 50 and for all lift.Cum432.23196.0084,717.08
36.1.2Chamber BrickBrick work with common burnt clay F.P.S. (non modular) bricks of class designation 7.5 in foundation and plinth in: — Cement mortar 1:6 (1 cement : 6 coarse sand)Cum0.697,132.254,921.25
44.10Chamber DpcProviding and laying damp-proof course 40 mm thick with cement concrete 1:2:4 (1 cement : 2 coarse sand (zone-III) derived from natural sources : 4 graded stone aggregate 12.5 mm nominal size derived from natural sources)Sqm1.61410.85661.47
Your inputsPond top length 20 m · Pond top width 15 m · Pond depth 3 m · Side slope 1.5H : 1V · Embank excavated earth as bund around pond · Brick inlet + outlet chamberTOTAL₹1,80,559
12.6.1₹90,259
Bulk Excavation
Earth work in excavation by mechanical means (Hydraulic excavator)/ manual means over areas (exceeding 30 cm in depth, 1.5 m in width as well as 10 sqm on plan) including getting out and disposal of excavated earth lead upto 50 m and for all lift, as directed by Engineer-in-charge. — All kinds of soil
508.50 Cum× ₹177.50
22.25₹84,717
Embankment
Filling available excavated earth (excluding rock) in trenches, plinth, sides of foundations etc. in layers not exceeding 20cm in depth, consolidating each deposited layer by ramming and watering, lead up to 50 and for all lift.
432.23 Cum× ₹196.00
36.1.2₹4,921
Chamber Brick
Brick work with common burnt clay F.P.S. (non modular) bricks of class designation 7.5 in foundation and plinth in: — Cement mortar 1:6 (1 cement : 6 coarse sand)
0.69 Cum× ₹7,132.25
44.10₹661
Chamber Dpc
Providing and laying damp-proof course 40 mm thick with cement concrete 1:2:4 (1 cement : 2 coarse sand (zone-III) derived from natural sources : 4 graded stone aggregate 12.5 mm nominal size derived from natural sources)
1.61 Sqm× ₹410.85
Pond top length 20 m · Pond top width 15 m · Pond depth 3 m · Side slope 1.5H : 1V · Embank excavated earth as bund around pond · Brick inlet + outlet chamber
Estimated total
₹1,80,559
Notes & assumptions
  • Pond volume formula uses the prismoidal rule for trapezoidal excavation: V = (depth/6) × (A_top + 4×A_mid + A_bot). Default 1.5H:1V slope is standard MGNREGA / PMKSY specification.
  • Excavation rate 2.6.1 (all kinds of soil, area excavation > 1.5 m wide > 10 m² on plan) is the dominant cost — typically 80-90% of total BOQ. For rock-mixed soil, swap for 2.7.1 (ordinary rock) or 2.7.2 (hard rock blasting).
  • Embankment uses excavated earth, banked + compacted at 0.85× volume (15% bulking allowance + watering + compaction shrinkage). Top of bund is 0.5-1.0 m wide; height ~0.5-0.75 m above NGL.
  • Inlet/outlet chambers (1.0 m × 0.75 m × 1.0 m brick) — quick estimate for sluice/silt-trap. For larger structures with masonry weir, gate or PCC apron, quote separately.
  • LDPE / HDPE liner (300-500 GSM black polyethylene) is NOT included — typical rate ₹80-120/m². Use only in highly permeable sandy soils (where unlined pond loses > 30% by infiltration); standard MGNREGA farm ponds in clay loam are usually unlined.
  • Excludes: stone pitching on slopes (DSR 7.X), tree planting / vetiver grass on bund, fencing, pumping arrangements, distribution channels. These are usually separate works under PMKSY 'micro-irrigation' or convergence with other schemes.

A **farm pond** is an earthen rainwater-harvesting structure that captures monsoon runoff for irrigation, livestock watering and groundwater recharge. Under MGNREGA's water-conservation guidelines (which mandate 30-65% of block spending on water works), farm ponds are the **single largest category of permissible works**. The PMKSY (Per-Drop-More-Crop) component co-funds private farmer ponds. Standard MGNREGA spec: rectangular pit 15-30 m × 10-20 m × 2-4 m deep, 1.5H:1V side slopes, top embankment with compacted earth, brick inlet/outlet for desilting. This BOQ Builder generates the complete cost per CPWD DSR 2023 with prismoidal-formula volume calculations.

Why farm ponds matter under MGNREGA + PMKSY

MGNREGA's Ministry of Rural Development directive (2026) mandates a minimum share of block-level funding for water-conservation works: 65% in over-exploited / critical groundwater blocks, 40% in semi-critical, 30% in safe blocks. **Farm ponds are the #1 water-conservation work** by count — easier to execute than check dams, no permits beyond gram-sabha approval, immediate visible impact within one monsoon. PMKSY-Per-Drop-More-Crop adds a private-farmer co-financing layer where 75% subsidy on a farm pond (cap ₹1.5 lakh) goes directly to small/marginal farmers via DBT. Combined, the two schemes drove ~3.5 lakh farm pond construction in FY 2024-25, by far the highest among rural water-works categories.

Standard MGNREGA farm-pond geometry

**MGNREGA Operational Guidelines** specify two standard sizes — Small (10×10×2 m = 200 m³) and Large (20×15×3 m = 900 m³). PMKSY allows up to 50×40×4 m (~8,000 m³) for community ponds. The geometry is always **trapezoidal in section** with 1.5H:1V side slopes — flatter slopes (2H:1V) for loose / sandy soil to prevent collapse, steeper (1H:1V) only in rocky terrain. Top embankment uses the excavated earth itself — compacted in 200 mm layers as per IS 5878 Part 1 — so a 900 m³ pond generates a 760 m³ embankment (after 15% bulking allowance). For sandy or highly permeable soils, add LDPE / HDPE liner separately (₹80-120/m², not included in this BOQ).

What's included and what to quote separately

**Included** — bulk excavation in soil (DSR 2.6.1), embankment with excavated earth (DSR 2.25), brick inlet/outlet chamber (DSR 6.1.2), DPC band on chamber (DSR 4.10). For a 900 m³ pond with both chambers and embankment: typical total ~₹1.7-2.2 lakh in CPWD DSR rates, or ₹190-245 per cubic metre of capacity. **Excluded** — LDPE/HDPE pond liner for sandy/permeable soils (₹80-120/m² × ~80% of inner surface); stone pitching on slopes (₹250-400/m² for random rubble masonry per DSR 7.X); vetiver grass / tree planting on bund for slope stabilisation; fencing (barbed wire 3-strand ₹200/m); cattle drinking trough at down-stream end; pump + delivery pipes for irrigation use. PMKSY allows convergence with these add-ons under the same project budget.

Frequently asked questions
**MGNREGA standard sizes**: Small farm pond = 10 m × 10 m × 2 m (= 200 m³ capacity); Large farm pond = 20 m × 15 m × 3 m (= 900 m³). Community ponds under PMKSY can go up to 50 m × 40 m × 4 m (~8,000 m³). Side slopes are always 1.5H : 1V for normal soils, 2H : 1V for loose / sandy soils. Top bund / embankment is 0.5-1.0 m wide and rises 0.5-0.75 m above natural ground level.

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Disclaimer: Rates sourced from CPWD DSR Vol 1 (2023). Indicative for estimation only — actual tender quotations are governed by market forces, locality factors and current input prices. Quantities follow IS 1200 measurement. Always verify with a local quote before finalising. © InfraLens — infralens.in