Map made of discarded mother boards sets example on e-waste management

CBD BELAPUR: Even as the growing amount of electronic waste causes concerns among civic authorities and environmentalists, the solid waste management (SWM) department of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has found a creative solution.

In a novel project, the SWM has used 22 old motherboards to prepare a map of the country. The 4.5 ft high and 4 ft wide map took four days of hard work to make and has been christened Mother India Board.

The aim was to convey to residents the message of making the best use of waste.

“E-waste is a big concern for all major cities in the country. There is a big question mark for all civic bodies and government departments as to what has to be done with outdated and faulty computers, mobile phones and other electronic items, in what manner to dispose them,” said Babasaheb Rajale, deputy municipal commissioner (SWM).

“E-waste is generated in large quantities in Navi Mumbai and the NMMC had, earlier, appealed to residents to re-cycle e-waste or use it to make artistic items. To encourage residents and show them the way, we decided to make the India map using the faulty motherboards,” said Rajale.

The map was made with the help of Green Society Forum’s volunteers Kishore Vishwas, Binoy K, Abu Ramiza, Allwyn Augustine, Arif Mohammed Shaikh, Jaspal Singh Noal and Machchindra Patil.

The group brought together the concept and made the map that particularly depicts Maharashtra, Navi Mumbai and the location of the civic headquarter.

The map has been affixed on the third floor of the NMMC headquarters in CBD Belapur.

Mayor Sudhakar Sonan wane and municipal commissioner Dinesh Waghmare inaugurated the artistic work on Tuesday.

“The concept and the work done on this piece of art are excellent,” said Waghmare.

He added, “Such concepts are required for environment protection and making Navi Mumbai a smart city.”

› E-waste is generated in large quantities in Navi Mumbai and the NMMC had, earlier, appealed to residents to re-cycle e-waste or use it to make artistic items Babasaheb Rajale, deputy municipal commissioner (SWM)

HT Civic officials look at the 4.5-feet high and 4-feet wide India map, made from electronic waste, at the NMMC headquarters.