Bhubaneswar, March 24: The city is going to join hands with the world to observe Earth Hour on March 28.
The annual event is held globally to encourage individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off lights for one hour, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will also put off the lights near its monuments on that day in and around the city.
Superintending archaeologist of the Bhubaneswar circle Bhuvan Vikrama said: "We are going to switch off the lights near the monuments to make people aware of the importance of the day."
While the commissionerate police building and the headquarters of the East Coast Railway have been observing the day each year since 2012, last year the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) switched off the lights of the hoardings across the city to mark the occasion.
This year, the civic body is going to take the help of its website and My City My Pride mobile app to sensitise residents about the event.
"The Swachha Bhubaneswar Abhijan (SBA) cell of the civic body is planning to put awareness message about Earth Hour on its app," said additional municipal commissioner D. Brundha.
A senior corporation official said: "The Earth Hour day coincides with Ram Navami. So, it is up to the residents to decide how they want to observe it. However, we hope that people support the cause that is being observed worldwide for a better and greener future."
Ambarish K, team leader of the SBA cell, said: "We will also request residents to not use their personal vehicles such as cars and bikes for an hour on March 28. This will also help reduce emission of carbon dioxide and other green house gases."
City-based urban management expert Piyush Ranjan Rout said: "The civic authorities should improve the urban transport system so that residents do not feel the need to use their own vehicles."
"We have learned that Canada-based consultant IBI has made plans for pedestrian- friendly designs near the railway station and Ashok Nagar. However, according to me, it should also be replicated elsewhere in the city to reduce the pollution level," he said.
Earth Hour, that began in Sydney, Australia, 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 reduce carbon level in the world, which indirectly contributes towards the global warming and climate change. Climate change effects have changed the weather pattern across all nations in the world.
