Once a sprawling urban wetland in East Delhi, Sanjay Lake has steadily shrunk as its catchment gave way to housing colonies and roads, cutting off natural inflows.
Now dependent largely on rainwater and limited recharge, the lake often records low water levels, especially before the monsoon.
Reduced in depth and spread, it stands today as a stressed ecosystem, with siltation, sewage inflow and mounting urban pressure choking its natural balance.