Bhubaneswar, March 18: The world will observe Earth Hour tomorrow from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, but thanks to cricket the city will give it a skip this time.

The high voltage India-Pak T20 World Cup match to be held at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta tomorrow has come in the way of observing Earth Hour.

Instead of switching off their electrical appliances, many would remain glued to their television sets. A number of hotels and restaurants will also continue with their special cricket screening plans and would not take part in the observation.

The students of Utkal University have, however, come up with an idea to make up for it.

"After all it is a match between India and Pakistan. We cannot afford to miss it, but all of us would gather at one room and ensure that the lights of all other rooms are turned off," said Subrat Behera, a hostel boarder of the varsity.

A mass signature campaign will be organised on the campus where teachers and students will write messages to make the Earth Hour productive.

The match will also take a toll on various neighbourhoods and local clubs, who would prefer to watch the match. Many seem to be ignorant of the cause as well.

"What difference would it make by saving electricity for one hour. We are huge fans of cricket and we cannot miss it," said Nayapalli resident Manoj Senapati.

While the city is still basking in the glory of Bhubaneswar being the No. 1 smart city, they have done nothing for the Earth Hour. Unlike last year, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has no plans to mark the occasion.

"We have no plans this year," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

Last year, the hoardings across the city were turned off and the civic body had also promoted it through its website and the My City My Pride mobile app to sensitise residents about the event.

However, there will be a few exceptions.

Like last year, the Archaeological Survey of India will switch off the lights near its monuments in and around the city. Police building and headquarters of the East Coast Railway will also plunge into the cause that they have been doing since 2012.

Earth Hour, that began in Sydney in 2007 as a lights-off event calling communities around the world to fight climate change, is now a worldwide movement, annually uniting people to protect the planet.

The 60-minute annual international event organised by the World Wildlife Fund aims to inspire people towards a sustainable planet.

The Indus Entrepreneurs (Bhubaneswar chapter of TiE) will conduct a march from Airport Square to Shishu Bhavan Square early morning to motivate people to observe Earth Hour. Carrying solar lights, students of various engineering colleges will walk around their campus.

A number of voluntary organisations and youth groups of the city will also observe Earth Hour.

Volunteers of the Local Governance Network have requested various urban local bodies, business groups, senior citizens, schools and colleges to observe the day by switching off their lights.

"We will conduct a cycle rally from Info City to Old Town to interact with citizens and make them aware of issues such as rise in temperature and impact of global warming," said network convener Piyush Rout.