You can now see the world’s seven wonders in Delhi
To solve its problem of solid waste management, authorities in Delhi have made replicas of the seven wonders of the world. Putting 150 tonnes of metal scrap to good use, it is safe to say, the Indian capital has transformed its waste into wonder!
Serpentine pathways, blooming flowers, intriguing solar trees, and recycled waste masquerading as the Seven Wonders of the World- welcome to Waste to Wonder Park, a one-of-its-kind theme park in Delhi.
An initiative to curb the issue of solid waste management in the Indian capital, the theme park has creatively used 150 tonnes of metal scrap and transformed it into replicas of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Looking at the rather imaginatively crafted Taj Mahal, Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Great Pyramid of Giza, it is hard to tell that these pieces of art have been crafted from iron sheets, nuts, bolts, bicycle and bike parts, collected from municipal stores, where they were gathering dust.
There are also replicas of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer (8 metres), Rome’s Colosseum (5 metres) and New York’s Statute of Liberty (10 metres), and Eifel Tower (18 metres) that decorate the park, particularly at evenings, when they are beautifully lit.
What’s also interesting is that the replicas are lit using solar power. The park has solar trees, solar panels, and windmills that take care of its energy requirements.
A hit amongst the locals
It is little to wonder then why the park has already become a hit amongst local people, despite having been thrown open only two months ago, in February.
The queues on the weekend are particularly lengthy and as serpentine as the pathway inside; and despite the rush, people are enjoying paying a visit to the park.
“This is such an innovative approach for combating the problem of waste management. These structures are so overwhelming. I look forward to coming here more often,” says Shreshth Mishra, a student from Delhi.
“I feel so proud to see our nation progressing. This is definitely a step forward. Kudos. Long way to go,” adds Sudha Gupta, a visitor.
Not just an up-cycle project, Waste to Wonder Park has also been made with the idea of adding to the aesthetics of the city.
Completed in six months with the imagination of five main artists, seven supporting artists and the labour of 50 workers, the park is spread over seven acres in Rajiv Gandhi Smriti Van, a memorial park.
Currently, a fee of INR 50 (EUR 0.65) is what it takes to enter the park, while senior citizens and students from municipality schools can visit it for free.
Soon it will also be thrown open for pre-wedding shoots and film sequences.
Treating garbage with creativity
Infamous for soaring landfills and an annual production of more than 1.6 million tonnes of unregulated waste, as per data by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the city is indeed in dire need of efficient waste management strategies. As per the reports of the Centre of Science and Environment, Delhi generates over 10,000 tonnes of solid waste every day. In such a scenario initiatives like Waste to Wonder, are undoubtedly a step forward in the direction of waste management.
Reflection of creativity to deal with the problem of waste is not something new. In 2004, Delhi had come up with a unique project for combating the grave issue of unmanaged solid waste. Now a perfect destination for picnics, Indraprastha Park, near the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway station was once a dump land. Today, it includes a children’s park, an amphitheatre and a food court. A world peace Stupa of Gautam Buddha was also inaugurated here in 2007. Interestingly, the Waste to Wonder Park is just adjacent to it.
