Delhi will join other world cities in observing the 'Earth Hour' by turning off the lights for one hour from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm on March 27.
![India geared up to celebrate Earth Hour India geared up to celebrate Earth Hour](https://i.ndtvimg.com/doctors/uploadedImages/News/full_news/candle1.jpg?q=50)
Pledging its support to the initiative, Delhi government has already started a campaign asking people to observe the event by switching off the lights and electrical appliances for an hour on March 27.
Delhi Environment Secretary made an appeal to all the residents to observe the Earth Hour. The Delhi Government has already asked shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, educational institutions and major markets to observe the event, which is celebrated across major cities of the world on the last Saturday of March annually to pledge support for protecting the environment.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is going to participate in an event at the lawns of the India Gate and switch off the lights there at 8:30 pm. City Discoms BSES and NDPL have also pledged their support to the 'Earth Hour' initiative and appealed to their consumers to observe the event. Several hotels and malls have also announced their support to the initiative and plans to organise special events.
The WWF India said the event will also be celebrated in Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, apart from several other cities where people will be urged to turn off the lights in their homes and offices for an hour.
It said Delhi and Mumbai will be leading the country in making the campaign a success in India. Both the cities had observed the event last year and saved a total of 1,000 MW of power.
Started in Sydney in Australia in 2007, the 'Earth Hour' became a global event in 2008 with participation of 35 countries. India joined the Earth Hour campaign last year. Delhi alone had saved 700 MW of power by supporting the campaign.
In 2009, millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4,000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off lights to pledge their support for saving the planet.
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