E-waste sculptures to be installed soon in Odisha capital

Bhubaneswar: Being concerned over the deadly consequences of e-waste, the civic body authorities decided to install e-waste sculptures soon across the city to create massive awareness among citizens.

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), in association with its implementation partners SDRC and Sofies Sustainability Leaders Pvt Ltd will install e-waste sculptures at two major locations in the smart city.

One sculpture is with a theme ‘Hand pointing to the ground’ gives the message: we need to reconnect with Mother Earth by being responsible in scientific management of Electronic Waste (E-waste) and recycling it in a sustainable manner.

The second sculpture titled ‘Raavan’ gives the message that we would need to be responsible in management of E-Waste by following the principles of reduction, reuse, repair and recycle. Naming of the sculpture as per the mythological character explains that if we ignore the issue, one day E-waste could also becomes a demon like Raavan and do harm to the human race.

While the sculpture summarizing the philosophy of life that everything finally gets mingled with the Mother Earth will be installed at Power House Square, the second sculpture ‘Raavan’ will be placed at Jaydev Vihar Square in Bhubaneswar.

These installations will be part of Clean E-Bhubaneswar Project under IFC-EU Eco-Cities Programme. Clean E-Bhubaneswar project is a joint initiative of International Finance Corporation-European Union Eco Cities Programme and Bhubaneswar Municipal corporation.

The move came after the report prepared by the United Nations University (UNU), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) discarded equipment, such as phones, laptops, fridges, sensors, and TVs contain substances that pose considerable environmental and health risks, especially if treated inadequately.

Most e-waste is not properly documented and not treated through appropriate recycling chains and methods, said Narasingh Panigrahi, Director of city-based Siddha Development Research and Consulting (SDRC).

The international report also shows that the amounts of e-waste continue to grow, while too little is recycled. By 2016, the world generated 44.7 million metric tonne (MT) of E-waste and only20% was recycled through appropriate channels, he said.

The sculpture titled ‘Hand pointing to the ground’ – made by well-known city-based artist Veejayant Dash – is already to be installed in the city. The sculpture was first displayed at 16th Anjali International Children’s Festival in Bhubaneswar.

The drawings are already finalised for the second sculpture ‘Raavan’, Panigrahi said.

Notably, the rock gardens, made out of various wastes, have already become major tourist attractions in many cities across the country. As per the Waste Management Rules, 2016, the e-wastes should be scientifically stored and dismantled as it lead to pollution and various environmental hazards.