NLCIL’s unveils waste-to-art sculpture in Delhi

The NLCIL unveiled a waste to art sculpture near Parliament House in Delhi recently.

The NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has installed “Jai Hind Chakra”, a sculpture crafted from scrap metals, near the new Parliament House in New Delhi.

A press note said the installation, symbolising national pride and environmental consciousness, was designed and developed as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva 4.0 campaign by the Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Coal.

The artefact, measuring 10 feet by 10 feet, reflects the colours of the national flag and aims to promote awareness about environmental protection and waste management.

Designed using a mirror-image concept, the sculpture appears identical from both front and the rear.

According to the press note, as part of initiatives in line with the Seva campaign and “Waste to Art” thrust, the NLCIL undertook several creative efforts to transform industrial waste into valuable art. Among these was the development of “Punarutthan Charkha Park”, a themed park featuring sculptures and models made from scrap materials. Additionally, an unused building was renovated and converted into NLCIL “Parampariyam” museum, further promoting sustainability.

The Jai Hind Chakra was similarly conceptualized using unused Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) scrap materials sourced from NLCIL Mines. Components like clutch plates and bearings were used to represent strength and mechanical endurance, while pipes and tanks provided structural stability. Specialised fabrication techniques helped shape the sculpture into its final artistic form.

Completed within a span of just three weeks, the sculpture was developed under the close supervision and regular inspections of NLCIL CMD Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, the press note said. A total of 1,250 rods and 250 cutting wheels were utilized to ensure the sculpture’s intricate design and precision.

The sculpture was brought to life by a team of skilled artists led by renowned sculptor Srinivas Padakandla from Vijayawada, who is also a faculty member in the Fine Arts Department at Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur.