GVMC to organise ‘Waste to Wonder’ championship

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) will organise a “Waste to Wonder” championship as part of the Swachh Survekshan 2025–26 initiative, marking the first such effort of its kind in the country.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg said the competition aims to encourage welding shops, fabrication units, and independent metal artists to create sculptures using scrap materials, thereby enhancing the city’s aesthetic appeal while promoting environmental sustainability.

Participants have been asked to design sculptures ranging from 4 ft. to 8 ft. in height, using at least 80% iron scrap and automobile waste. The competitions will be conducted across all GVMC zones, and entries must be submitted by April 10, 2026.

Cash prizes have been announced for each zone, with ₹1 lakh for the first prize, ₹50,000 for the second, and ₹25,000 for the third. In addition, 10 consolation prizes of ₹5,000 each will be awarded. The total prize pool across all zones is ₹22.5 lakh. Certificates will be given to all participants.

Mr. Garg said the initiative seeks to promote the creative reuse of waste materials while contributing to urban beautification. He appealed to welding shops, metal fabricators, and independent artists in the city to participate in large numbers.

The official poster for the championship was unveiled at the GVMC headquarters in the presence of Additional Commissioner P. Nallanayya and Secretary B.V. Ramana.

The winning sculptures will be installed at prominent road junctions in the city, with due recognition to the creators. The initiative, the Commissioner said, would contribute to building a greener and more visually appealing Visakhapatnam.

Interested participants can register online through the GVMC portal or by scanning the QR code provided in the official poster. For further details, they may contact the sanitation and environment secretaries at their respective ward secretariats.