Vijayawada: In a significant move to align with the Government of India’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) initiative, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power, is spearheading efforts to raise awareness about sustainable living and energy conservation practices across Southern India. One of the focal points of this campaign is Tirupati, a globally renowned pilgrimage center visited by millions annually. By promoting Mission LiFE’s principles here, BEE aims to inspire both pilgrims and the local population to adopt environmentally conscious behaviours. These issues were among the key topics discussed at the 4th International Conference on Environmental Management (ICEM), held from 4th to 7th October and organised by the Indian Society of Geomatics (ISG) in collaboration with JNTU Hyderabad.
Although BEE will not be implementing specific energy-efficiency measures in Tirupati, the city holds strategic importance for promoting the Mission LiFE’s objectives due to the sheer volume of devotees visiting daily. These campaigns are not merely about policy changes but about transforming mindsets. The aim is to engage the citizens, encouraging them to make simple yet impactful lifestyle changes that contribute to reducing environmental degradation. This broader engagement of individuals and communities is crucial in achieving the vision outlined by the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi when launching Mission LiFE at COP26 in Glasgow.
The Mission LiFE initiative is centered around sustainable living, focusing on reducing waste, conserving resources, and shifting towards greener energy practices. As part of this initiative, BEE is taking active steps to ensure that the principles of energy efficiency, water conservation, reducing single-use plastics, promoting sustainable food systems, and minimizing waste are communicated effectively to the masses, especially in key pilgrimage centers such as Tirupati. This approach aligns with BEE’s broader mandate of promoting energy efficiency across India, making the initiative a natural extension of its existing efforts.
While there are no direct energy-efficiency projects being implemented in Tirupati as part of this initiative, the temple city serves as an ideal platform for promoting sustainable practices. Every day, Tirupati sees a footfall of 50,000 to 100,000 devotees, making it a hub of diverse cultural and religious activities. By leveraging this substantial floating population, BEE intends to amplify the Mission LiFE message of sustainability, urging both pilgrims and residents to embrace energy-saving behaviours in their daily lives. The SDS/ AP SECM and the State Energy department which has been considered as one of the best department, In the country in Promoting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency ,will play a critical role in ensuring that these campaigns are far-reaching and effective.
These awareness campaigns, while focused on lifestyle changes, are not limited to symbolic efforts but are designed to catalyze real, quantifiable actions. By encouraging citizens to make small adjustments in their consumption patterns—whether it be switching to LED lighting, reducing plastic use, or conserving water—BEE hopes to demonstrate that individual efforts, when scaled, can significantly impact India’s energy consumption and environmental health.
Andhra Pradesh has long been a pioneer in energy efficiency and sustainable development, with its proactive policies such as the Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2024 laying the groundwork for future actions. The state achieved remarkable success when it was ranked highly by the World Bank for Energy Efficiency Readiness during 2016-17, and continues to show leadership through its energy conservation efforts. The BEE’s Mission LiFE awareness initiatives in Tirupati will further complement these ongoing state efforts, promoting a unified front in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.
In addition to promoting sustainable practices, BEE is working closely with state and local governments to ensure that the Mission LiFE initiative reaches all sections of society, including marginalized and underserved communities. The integration of Mission LiFE awareness into existing energy efficiency programs ensures that the messaging is cohesive and impactful. This approach not only highlights Tirupati as a center for spiritual renewal but also as a beacon of sustainability, showing how pilgrimage centers can lead the charge in fostering environmental consciousness.
The efforts in Tirupati serve as part of a larger National framework under Mission LiFE, which outlines 75 actionable steps across seven key categories, including energy savings, water conservation, waste reduction, and e-waste minimization. BEE’s role is to ensure that these steps are translated into meaningful actions at the community level, driving the mission’s goals of engaging one billion Indians and global citizens by 2028. Tirupati’s prominence as a pilgrimage center offers a unique opportunity to showcase these actions, demonstrating how religious and cultural institutions can contribute to environmental preservation.
Moreover, Tirupati’s example could potentially serve as a global model for other pilgrimage centers worldwide, illustrating how large-scale events and daily gatherings can be leveraged to promote environmental stewardship. By instilling the values of sustainability in millions of pilgrims, BEE hopes to create a ripple effect that extends beyond India’s borders, influencing global conversations on sustainable development.
Key dignitaries who participated the 4th International Conference on Environmental Management (ICEM) included Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary for Industry and IT, Government of Telangana; Anand Mohan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Government of India; Dr. Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General of ICRISAT; Dr. Beniamino Murgante from the University of Basilicata, Italy; Dr. Chouhan, Chairman of ISG; Dr. K. Mruthyanja Reddy, Chairman of the ISG Hyderabad Chapter and A Chandra Shekhar Reddy Media Adviser ( South / UTs) BEE along with renowned environmentalist Dr. Purushottam Reddy; and Dr. T. Vijaya Lakshmi, Secretary of ISG and ICEM.
All underscored the pivotal role of state governments in implementing policies that promote energy efficiency and environmental protection, including carbon pricing, renewable energy subsidies, stringent pollution regulations, and measures against deforestation, all with robust public participation. Dr.T. Vijaya Lakshmi highlighted the proactive initiatives undertaken by southern states, particularly Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, in the realms of environmental management and energy efficiency, contributing significantly to the efforts against climate change. During the conference Media Adviser ..BEE, elaborated that Mission LiFE seeks to mobilise at least one billion Indians and global citizens to engage in individual and collective actions to safeguard the environment from 2022 to 2028. Launched during India’s 75th year of independence, Mission LiFE delineates 75 actionable steps across seven key categories: energy savings, water conservation, reduction of single-use plastics, adoption of sustainable food systems, waste reduction, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and minimisation of e-waste. experts emphasised the need for a particular focus on both rural and urban areas, with special attention to densely populated cities such as Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Bengaluru, Mysore, Chennai, and Thiruvananthapuram. They further stressed the importance of Tirupati, a world-renowned pilgrimage centre frequented by 50,000 to 100,000 devotees daily, in showcasing how Mission LiFE can effectively tackle climate change and pollution, thereby potentially serving as a model for other global pilgrimage centres.
