The decorative lights on Howrah Bridge were turned off for 10 minutes on Saturday to mark Earth Day. Many other locations in the city also switched off their lights.
More than 65 places, including hotels, clubs and restaurants, took part in the initiative.
For several years now, a number of locations in the city have been switching off their lights for a brief period on special occasions to raise awareness about the need to reduce emissions caused by human activities.
“We want to raise awareness that by using lesser electricity we will actually reduce emissions because electricity generation causes a lot of emissions that also heats up our earth,” said Somini Sen Dua whose NGO convinced multiple places to turn off their lights and keep the taps off for ten minutes on Saturday.
An official of the Kolkata Port Trust — custodian of the Howrah Bridge — said the decorative lights of the bridge were switched off for 10 minutes in the evening. “The street lights remained on because of traffic,” said the official.
Lights also went off at PVR Inox in South City between 5 and 5.10pm on Saturday. The Inox authorities requested people not to use the washroom for 10 minutes. The lights and air-conditioners were switched off in the common areas outside the auditoriums, said Amitava Guha Thakurta of PVR Inox.
Several traders in Ezra Street — the hub of electric lights — also turned off the lights.
About 2,000 units of electricity will be saved by keeping the lights off for just 10 minutes in all these places, Sen Dua said.
Saplings distributed
Two NGOs distributed 70 saplings to religious leaders on Saturday. The IHA Foundation and Earth Day Network will plant saplings in various parts of Kolkata till June 5, World Environment Day.