Sahu, also a YE member, gave a lowdown on the benefits of saving the lake from extinction by stating that “equivalent cooling of a space of two km by two km to a height of 10 m over the valley would need 200,000 tons of air conditioning unit costing Rs 10 billion at Rs 5,000 per ton.”

And not just money, added Sahu, the electricity bill alone will amount to Rs 1 million per day “if we calculate it at Rs 5 per day”.

The event—organised by the YE Programme centre at the Maharashtra State Angling Association (MSAA) a clubhouse in Powai—-was an attempt to bring students closest to its eco system and teach them the importance of preserving nature.

Stating that a mere cosmetic touch or beautification was not the solution, Sahu said that by neglecting it and commercialising the surrounding area, the lake over the years has been collecting washouts which includes soaps, chemicals, chlorine and cleansing agents among others.

“All this is poisoning the lake habitat and leading to its gradual deterioration and extinction,” he said.

Even as the students learnt about the basics of lake ecology including requirements for survival, habitats and the web of life, the enthusiastic group later took a hike through the trails of the Powai lake and garden for a first-hand experience of the environment.

“Students got the chance to understand the factors which are a threat to the lake’s survival. And it allowed them to add the history of the habitat like fauna, fish and geography of the lake to their classroom environmental studies,” said Elsie Gabriel, YE Programme director.

The participants from schools like S M Shetty School, Hiranandani Foundation School, Bombay Scottish School and Gopal Sharma Memorial School & Junior College (all in Powai) emphasised that such practical-oriented programmes should be organised by schools to create more interest in environment studies.

“I have been staying in Powai for the last six years, but this is the first time that I’ve really understood the significance of the lake and its surroundings and how it’s the people who are destroying it,” said Rahul Srivastava, Std VIII student of S M Shetty School.