A ‘Welcome’ Initiative to Spread Awareness on Environment

The ITCWelcome Group, which has 14 five-star hotels across the country, have phased out plastic bags and are using biodegradable bags for garbage collection.

A solar torch, homemade compost machine, jute bags with anti-pollution messages, durable carry bags made from poly packs, salt-rock lamps and many more were on display Wednesday at the ITC Maurya Hotel here to spread awareness about a cleaner future.

"I urge all the citizens of Delhi to think in terms of environment and make Delhi a better place to live. Government, corporates and citizens must work together for a cleaner and better future," Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters after inaugurating the exhibition.

Earlier Dikshit flagged off a three kilometres trek into the Delhi ridge. Organized by ITCWelcome group scores of youngsters, hotel employees and environmental activists participated in the trek and planted trees.

The ITCWelcome Group, which has 14 five-star hotels across the country, have phased out plastic bags and are using biodegradable bags for garbage collection. To become zero waste producers they are using recycled paper stationary and practicing paperless communication as far as possible.

Dipak Haksar, vice president ITC hotels, said: "We are harvesting water and will convert our diesel-based generators into gas-based. This will help us reduce energy consumption and make carbon dioxide emissions almost nil."

"Our green initiatives has helped us reduce the energy consumption cost by over 12 percent. Through the green mela (exhibition), we want to give exposure to several grassroot innovators who are environmentally conscious," said Haksar.

"We are making durable carry bags from poly packs at the hotel basement. Instead of throwing these non-biodegradable products, we are collecting them, processing and making durable carry bags, folders, mats and many such items.

"Even the Delhi government has taken 200 pieces of such folders from us," said Kiran Kampani, programme officer of NGO Chintan.

Asit Neema, an environmental engineer, said: "Time has arrived when we need to work on individual social responsibility as against corporate social responsibility."

Source-IANS
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