Delhi to join 10th Earth Hour on March 19

New Delhi: As part of efforts to spread the message of energy conservation, Delhiites will join a billion people in over 6,000 cities across the globe to observe the Earth Hour this Saturday by switching off electrical appliances between 8.30 PM and 9.30 PM.

Power distribution companies (discoms) in the city are gearing up for 10th edition of the event by sending text messages on mobile phones and memos to individual households, Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs), business houses and communities urging them to switch off all lights for an hour to conserve energy.

BSES said it has appealed to its over 37 lakh customers to unequivocally support the event and voluntarily switch off non-essential electrical appliances on March 19 for an hour starting 8:30 PM.

"BSES has been an active crusader of climate conducive initiatives in its operations, as we realise that climate change and global warming are growing international concern," a spokesperson for the discom said in a press release.

As the Earth Hour coincides with the India-Pakistan match in ongoing T20 World Cup, BSES urged Delhiites to cheer for India while observing the Earth Hour.

"One can do this by watching the match with friends and family collectively at one place, with the non-essential lights switched off between 8.30 PM -9.30 PM," the spokesperson said.

Last year Delhi saved around 200 MW (124 MW in BSES area). On their part, BRPL and BYPL will also switch off all non-essential lights at their over 400 offices, spread across an area of around 950 sq kms, during the appointed hour.

Earth Hour is an annual international event created by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature/World Wildlife Fund) that urges households and business establishments across the world to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for an hour at the appointed time to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.

In India, the focus of the campaign this year is on the potential of solar energy as a viable and renewable source of power. The campaign is being endorsed this year by cricketer Shikhar Dhawan.

BSES said it is trying to reach out to maximum number of people through various platforms including its monthly newsletter which goes to over 34 lakhs customers. The information about the annual event is also available on the discom's website, it said.