The Hindu 08.09.2009
99 celebrities to take part in global warming awareness campaign
Staff Reporter
— Photo: K.Pichumani
Beneficiaries with the free colour TVs distributed at a function in Pudupet on Monday.
CHENNAI: A total of 99 celebrities in the city will take part in an event to be organised at Ripon Building here on Wednesday to mark the 99999 campaign for creating awareness on global warming.
“We will switch off lights in 2,000 buildings under the control of the Corporation, including Ripon Building, and 1,500 parks on Wednesday,” Mayor M. Subramanian said on Monday.
He urged residents to switch off lights for nine minutes from 9 p.m. on Wednesday as part of the campaign.
Various associations, including the All India Bank Employees’ Association, have extended support for the event. General secretary of AIBEA C.H. Venkatachalam said: “Our members have been requested to switch off lights for nine minutes on Wednesday.”
Similarly, many schools have asked the students to actively participate in the campaign. CEO of Velammal Group of Schools M.V.M. Velmurugan said: “More than 50,000 students of our institutions have been asked to support the campaign.”
Founder of Exnora M.B.Nirmal said the campaign would be a tool for better awareness on global warming in the city.
Colour TVs distributed
At another function organised by the Chennai Corporation, to distribute free colour television sets, Minister of Information Parithi Illamvazhuthi said 3.38 lakh television sets have been distributed in the city so far. On Monday, 17,519 colour TVs were distributed in Egmore Assembly constituency, in Pudupet.
Speaking at the function, the Mayor said the construction of 192 housing units of the TNSCB quarters in K.P. Nagar of Pulianthope would be completed in a year at a cost of Rs.6 crore.
