Urban lakes in India suffer from different types of problems. Lakes which are filled with sewage due to heavy inflows of wastewater through storm-water drains, lakes which remain dry due to a combination of diversion channels (bypass drains) and blocked storm-water drains and lakes which overflow and cause flooding, because they are already filled with partially treated sewage. Paradoxically, many cities in India have engaged citizen communities. Why then despite the considerable investment of money and citizen engagement do problems persist? The answer is quite complex. It has in equal parts to do with what we understand (and don't) about urban lakes, how government agencies work (and don't), and how citizens engage (and don't). In this talk, I will offer some lessons from having engaged with lakes for the last few years and a roadmap for change.