By IANS,
New Delhi: The national capital observed Earth Hour by switching off lights at India Gate, Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, the historic Red Fort, Central Park in Connaught Place and many other buildings at 8.30 p.m. Saturday.
Around 1,000 people gathered at Central Park in Connaught Place at an event organised by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWFN).
“This year’s Earth Hour is not only about saving power but it is also about promoting renewable sources of energy,” said Rituparna Gosh from WWFN.
Singer Rekha Bhardwaj performed at the venue.
Bollywood actors Ajay Devgun, Tom Alter, Shruti Hassan and pugilist Mary Kom are supporting the campaign.
“As the world celebrates Earth Hour by switching off lights across the globe for an hour, it reminds us of the scarcity of energy,” said Arun Gupta, managing director of NTL Electronics, a leading lighting manufacturer.
Said to be the largest environmental campaign in history, Earth Hour was first observed in Sydney in 2007 to send a strong message calling for action on climate change and environmental conservation.
India observed its first Earth Hour in 2009 with people in 56 cities switching off lights.
The event has gone global with organisers claiming that more than 6,000 cities and towns across 150 countries switch off their lights for the hour this year.