If you keep the ignition of your vehicle on at traffic signals, you will be wasting fuel up to 100 ml per minute.

Turn off the ignition and be a part of growing band of environmentalists. This was the theme of a one-day campaign launched on Friday by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) in association with GSSS Institute of Engineering and Technology for Women (GSSIETW) and its PU and first grade colleges of Siddarthanagar.

Student members of Eco Club of afore said colleges were the volunteers who spread the message at select four traffic junctions in the city. A group of 25 students distributed the pamphlets at K R Circle, Ramaswamy Circle, Dasappa Circle and Nehru Circle advising the riders and drivers against burning the petrol and diesel more than necessary. They held placards that advised the riders and drivers to turn off the ignition as soon as the signal turns red.

Planning engineer of KREDL, Mysore regional office D K Dinesh Kumar said it’s for the first time such an initiative has been taken up in the city. The awareness campaign was earlier restricted to Bangalore.

Principal of GSSSIETW P Prakash said if the engine of a vehicle — be it two-wheeler or four-wheeler — remains on even for 60 seconds (one minute), the consumption of fuel may be in the range of five ml to 100 ml, depending on the idling of the engine. The vehicle users are of the understanding that the engine may consume more fuel during restart. It’s not true, as there are chances of more consumption of the fuel when the engine is in idle.

A stationary truck of KREDL mounted with equipment that work on renewable energy sources — from solar cooker to stove, solar lantern to others — were displayed at Ramaswamy Circle to enable curious passersby get a peek into other sources of energy for daily use.

Additional commissioner at the office of regional commissioner K M Chandre Gowda, ACP (traffic) Shankare Gowda and sub-inspector of K R traffic police station Nagesh were present.