“People should be aware about environmental issues”

Global warming and climate change are the greatest threats to the planet. The impact of the global warming and climate change, are resulting in change in global temperature, rise in sea levels, extreme weather patterns, falling agriculture output etc.

Earth Hour 2009 is a good initiative taken by WWF to make people aware about energy saving. 75 countries including India have committed to participate in WWF's Earth Hour in 2009. The campaign, which hopes to reach out to more than one billion people in 1000 cities around the world, encourage individuals, businesses and governments to switch off lights for just one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. to convey their support for action on climate change.

2009 is a critical year in terms of the political decisions that will be made at global climate negotiations in December 2009. Earth Hour aims to highlight the voice of the people of the world and represent a visual mandate for meaningful policy on climate change.

Organizations like us have a responsibility towards the citizens of the society. Organizations have to see that environment issues are taken care of and it should not be compromised. No short cuts and one has to adhere to all the rules and regulations

To protect the earth from environment hazards like global warming and climate change every individual has to share the responsibility. People up to the grass root level should be aware about these issues and their impact on the planet; not only to understand the issues, but efforts are to be put to prevent the same.

With increasing demand of power, the resources are getting depleted and we have to go for alternative on solar, wind, water, etc.

As a telecom service provider with such a huge network, we are highly dependent on power. We understand the importance of conserving power.

Maharashtra is the largest unit of BSNL having a base of 70 lakh phone users in Land Line, WLL and Mobile. In addition we have over 3 lakh Broadband users.

BSNL has installed Quality Telecom Network in the country and continuously works on   improving it further, expanding the network, introducing new telecom services with ICT applications in villages and wining customer's confidence.  Not only BSNL reaches to every nook and corner of the country, it gives stress on providing hi-tech services such as Broadband in rural area.

BSNL is continuously making conscious and focused efforts to bridge the Rural-Urban Digital Divide. In fact there is no telecom operator in the country to beat its reach with its wide network giving services in every nook & corner of country and operates across India except Delhi & Mumbai- whether it is inaccessible areas of Siachen glacier or North-eastern region of the country.

To conserve the power and its resources we are percolating down the message 'Today's wastage is Tomorrow's shortage' to all our employees. Awareness has been created to inculcate the habit of conserving the energy by switching off lights /electrical equipments when not in use.

Maharashtra Circle of BSNL is conscious about Energy conservation and has taken following measures for implementation of Energy conservation measures in BSNL

Energy Core Group has been constituted at BSNL Corporate Office level, Circle level and SSA level and its meetings are held regularly to review the implementation of Energy conservation measures.  

'No cost measures' has been implemented in all buildings of Maharahstra BSNL Circle.

Low cost measures and high cost measures are  under implementation in BSNL buildings of Maharashtra.

Energy Audit has been carried out for all major buildings and its recommendation are under implementation.

There has been saving in Electricity charges due to maintenance of  power factor and TOD for BSNL Maharashtra as under:

2004 -  05 151 Lakh
2005 -  06 198 Lakh
2006 - 07 263 Lakh
2007 - 08 440 Lakh

In addition we are carrying out more and more plantation in our buildings.

We all have to ensure that people enjoy safer and more prosperous future. This year the theme for 'World Environment Day' is 'Your Planet needs you - Unite to combat climate change'. We have to give a human face to the environmental issue and promote an understanding that the communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues.

Earth Hour 2009 is a good initiative taken by WWF to make people aware about energy saving but we as individuals should take the responsibility to save the Earth and start from our own family/organization to inculcate the habit to save the energy and resources.

“Access to telecommunications is of utmost importance for achievement of the country's social and economic goals. Availability of affordable and effective communications for the citizens is at the core of the vision and goal of the new Telecom policy 1999." BSNL is committed to provide quality Telecom Services at affordable price to the citizens of the remotest part of the Country. BSNL Maharashtra Circle is making all effort to ensure that the objectives of the new Telecom Policy 1999 are achieved.

Chandra Prakash, Chief General Manager, BSNL Maharashtra Circle,
explains the significance of Earth Hour 2009.