Rashtrapati Bhavan to Observe Earth Hour Today

Rashtrapati Bhavan shall observe Earth Hour today, from 8.30 PM to 9.30 PM. During this one hour period, all non-essential lights in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President's Estate and also the Family Wing of the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, shall be switched off. The Residents Welfare Association of the President's Estate has been involved in preparations for observation of Earth Hour.

Throughout the last calendar year (2010), efforts have been made under the Roshini Programme to reduce consumption of electricity in the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan as well in the President's Estate. In calendar year 2010, there was a reduction of 22.3 percent in electricity consumption and reduction of 16.8 percent in the total number of units (Kwh) consumed, as compared to calendar year 2009. As a result savings on electricity consumption were approximately Rs. 1.64 crore and about 26 lakh units (Kwh) were saved.

The Roshini Programme also includes other environmental initiatives which have given the following benefits to the environment and the residents of the Estate:

a) So far 4405 kg of organic compost amounting to Rs. 35,240 and 48,827 kg. of vermi-compost amounting to Rs.3,41,789 have been produced.

b) As a result of water harvesting, there has been an overall rise of 0.35 meters in the water table, as compared to the previous year (2009) and during monsoon period it has been 0.88 meters.

c) A total number of 1161 saplings were planted in the President's Estate during 2008-09 and 2009-10.

d) Savings realized on account of use of biogas in the President's Body Guard (PBG) Mess so far is equal to 105 LPG cylinders since the inception of the Bio-Gas Plant in 2009.

This release issued at 1200 hrs.