City NGO Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) said the fountains would endanger fish and animals living in and around the lake and disturb migratory birds.

Founder and Secretary of PAWS Sunish Subramanian has written to Mayor Shubha Raul voicing PAWS’ opposition. “There is no need for a musical fountain when the lake is full of natural sound and birds. If the BMC wants it could do this in other artificial lakes, but not in the natural Powai Lake,” he said. “The construction will disturb fish and other life and also scare rare guest birds.”

He said upgradation work, which is in progress, was done by reclaiming land from the lake by dumping debris and soil on its fringes. “Water fountains would attract more visitors leading to traffic jams near the lake,” Subramanian said. “This will adversely affect hygiene, noise levels and air quality .”

Ajay Patil, a Powai resident, said locals were not in favour of the civic ‘beautification’ plan. “We come to the lake to enjoy nature and the tranquility; we don’t need instrumental music or an artificial fountain,” said Patil.

While Raul was not available for comment as she is out of town, Additional Municipal Commissioner Anil Diggikar said the fountain plan had not been finalised. “We will not disturb nature. And the plan can be altered, if there is opposition,” he said.

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