2012 Making Ice

People have used ice for thousands of years for keeping things cool. The Ancient Greeks knew how to make ice by boiling water and then putting it into snow. The Ancient Romans carted snow and ice from the mountains. Indian emperors sent horsemen into the mountains to bring back snow and ice for making fruit flavoured ices.
A hundred years ago in India, in places where the days were hot but the nights were very cold, the British who were living there made their own ice. Water was poured into shallow pans in the evening, and they were put outside. By the early hours of the morning the water was frozen. It was then chipped out of the pans and placed in lined storehouses that they had specially built.

Give a full explanation if you agree or disagree that it was worthwhile for the British to make ice? Be sure you justify your view.