Actress Vidya Balan leads Delhi to ‘switch off’ for Earth Hour

NEW DELHI: In an inspiring message of hope and action for a global movement to arrest climate change, Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, the brand ambassador for ‘WWF (India) 2011-Earth Hour 60+’ led the country in switching off lights for an hour here at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, along with senior Delhi government officials and members of WWF-India, participated in the symbolic ‘switching off’ to express their solidarity with Earth Hour at a function organised at the India Gate lawns.

WWF initiative

Earth Hour is a WWF initiative where citizens around the globe show their support for action on climate change by turning off lights for one hour. At 8.30 p.m. on March 26, cities, towns and municipalities across the world turned off their lights sending a powerful global message that it’s possible to take action on global warming.

In the capital, lights were switched off at India Gate and other major landmarks including Qutub Minar and the Red Fort. National defence establishments, universities, hotels, cinema complexes and shopping malls across the city also participated in the event.

All non-essential lights at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President’s Estate and also the family wing were switched off. The Residents Welfare Association of the President’s Estate was also involved in preparations for observation of Earth Hour, noted a release issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Sheila thanks people

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Dikshit thanked the people of Delhi on taking Earth Hour-2011 to the next level and making it a grand success.

“Delhi has come together again this year and pledged its support for Earth Hour India. The city plunged in darkness for a brighter tomorrow and we hope that Earth Hour sensitises each one of us for making the shift to a better lifestyle,’’ she said.

“I am both privileged and elated to be part of Earth Hour-2011 and pledge to take action even beyond the hour. Each one of us has the power to make a difference. We just need to be conscious of it and make wise choices. When each of us takes simple steps, together these actions will add up,” noted Ms. Balan.

Go beyond the hour

“The campaign message this year is to go beyond the hour and commit oneself to a more sustainable way of living every day, and not just for an hour. Earth Hour-2011 marks the start of a new phase for the movement, which is also reflected in the new ‘60+’ logo, representing a commitment to add a positive act for the planet. Over 4,000 cities from 131 countries are expected to be part of this global event,” said WWF-India secretary general and chief executive Ravi Singh.

During the Earth Hour, Delhi as a whole saved 296 MW of power. In the BSES area of South West, East and Central Delhi, a total of 181 MW of power was saved. Of this, 96 MW was in the area of discom BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and 85 MW in the area of BSES Yamuna Power Limited.

Since 2009 in India

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and over 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.

India joined the campaign in 2009 and currently mainly the urban centres in the country are participating. During Earth Hour 2010, more than five million people in India had switched off the lights.

Mumbai follows suit

Staff Reporter writes:

Though not very widespread, the Earth Hour saw a response from thousands of Mumbaikars who participated in candle light marches, cultural programmes, switched off non-essential lights to express their support. What was prominent was the support from various organisations, including educational institutes and government establishments.

It began with the first citizen of the city, Mayor Shraddha Jadhav, switching off the lights of her residential bungalow.

The lights at prominent places such as the Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus building, Asiatic library staircase were put out. Even on the Rajiv Gandhi Bandra-Worli sea link, all the decorative lights were switched off.

At many important landmarks, non-essential lights, high-powered halogens went off. This included the Air India Building, the Reserve Bank of India, the Taj Group of Hotels, Mantralay, Le Meridien Hotel and many office complexes across the city.

The Taj Hotel too participated in the observance of the Earth Hour. “All our 108 hotels across the globe have been participating in Earth Hour since 2007,” Vasant Ayyapan of Taj Hotels, said, giving information about the measures taken by the hotel to encourage customers, staff members and their families to put off lights.