The big turn off

Delhi will turn off the lights for 60 minutes on Saturday to help save the planet.

Candle light dinners will be the norm tomorrow night as Earth Hour will be observed across the city between 8.30 and 9.30 pm. Offices, residential areas and hotels will switch off their lights for an hour to create awareness about energy conservation.

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Actor Abhishek Bachchan, India’s Ambassador for Earth Hour 2010, an initiative supported by HT, said at the launch, “It’s time we take a collective pledge to ‘switch on’ our minds and take one simple step to switch off the lights. I will enjoy a candlelight dinner with Aishwarya during this time.”

Hotels , pubs and restaurants in the city will lend their support. “At Shangri La Hotel, we will switch off decorative lights and just keep the emergency lights on. Our contribution to Earth Hour 2010 will be a reduction of 800KWH or 450 Kg of carbon dioxide,” said Ruchika Mehta, Director Communications.

According to Richa Sharma, GM Corporate Communications, ITC Hotels, “At ITC Maurya, non-essential lights will be switched off or kept to a minimum.”

At F Bar and Lounge too, essential lights will be switched off for that hour. Said Deepali Narula, CEO, “We will comply with Earth Hour 2010 directives and use candles and a few emergency lights if needed.”

Beauty expert Samantha Kochchar said, “I’ll switch off the lights in my offices and residence. A candle light dinner and hide ‘n’ seek with my kids is also on the cards.”