New Delhi: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has announced a phased restoration and rejuvenation plan for Sanjay Lake, with major works scheduled for completion by May 2027. The initiative aims to revive the 52-acre urban lake in East Delhi following concerns over declining water quality, disrupted treated water supply, silt accumulation, sewage inflow and waste deposition.
The restoration programme gained momentum after the Lieutenant Governor reviewed the ongoing works at the lake and directed officials to undertake the rejuvenation project in mission mode. The lake, situated within a 165-acre protected forest area between Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri and Mayur Vihar Phase II, serves as one of East Delhi’s important recreational and ecological assets.
According to officials, Sanjay Lake is replenished through rainwater and treated water supplied from the Dallupura Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). In 2023, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) undertook dredging activities to improve the lake’s storage capacity and installed a pipeline to carry treated water from the STP. However, water inflow has remained affected due to leakages in the pipeline, which is currently under repair.
The Lieutenant Governor directed the Delhi Jal Board to expedite repair work and restore treated water supply at the earliest to maintain the lake’s water level and strengthen its role as a resilient blue-green urban asset.
DDA informed that several restoration activities are already in progress, including continuous removal of aquatic weeds and algae, strengthening of embankment slopes using geo-textile technology, and repair of damaged boundary walls. These interventions are intended to improve the lake’s ecological stability while reducing soil erosion and surface runoff.
The next phase of the project, targeted for completion by August 2026, includes channelisation of stagnant water, installation of additional bioswales to improve groundwater recharge, pathway repairs, routine maintenance and removal of grass from the lake bed.
The final phase, expected to conclude by May 2027, will focus on expanding water channelling systems, increasing bioswale coverage, implementing bioremediation measures, and installing aerators and fountains to enhance dissolved oxygen levels and overall water quality.
As part of the ecological enhancement strategy, officials have also been directed to plant 5,000 native trees across the surrounding forest area. The plantation will gradually diversify the existing vegetation, which was originally dominated by eucalyptus planted during the late 1970s for soil improvement.
The comprehensive restoration plan seeks to improve the environmental health, biodiversity and recreational value of Sanjay Lake while strengthening its contribution to Delhi’s urban blue-green infrastructure. TOI
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