Cement Energy and Environment

4.2 Bricks: • In spite of mandate of compulsory use of ash based products in building construction within 100 km of power plant, utilization of fly ash in this segment is limited. • Construction industries are not submitting annual returns to SPCB. • Mine authorities are not willing to accept asn in operating mines due to high stripping ratio , swelling factor of DB and multi seams of coal in mine. • Use of ash for back filling of mine is yet to be included in the guidelines for mine closure plan issued by Ministry of Coal. .,.. • Effective monitoring by regulatory authorities • MoEF I CPCB to issue guidelines for ash filling ~ for users I construction industries may in mines. increase ash utilization in this area. • Though ash utilization in brick industries is increasing, but its utilization is about 7 pes only. 4.3 Road embankment: Easy availability of soil nearby of construction site I higher transportation cost for fly ash. • It is one time use only not sustainable areas of ash utilization. • Road construction agencies engaged in NHAII Highway Projects are not complying the provision of notification of compulsory use of ash in road embankment within 100 km of power plant • Strict enforcement by regulatory authority may increase ash utilization in this area. 4.4 Land filling: • MoEF gazette notification stipulates compulsory use of ash in low lying development within 1 00 km of power plant. • Restrictions are being imposed by EAC of MoEF for ash use in this area in new projects clearance. • SPCBs are not allowing for !ow lying area development by use of ash even inside of power plants. • • It is one time use only. State forests department do not allow for waste land development using ash and no guidelines from MoEF are issued for the same. 4.5 Mine back filling: • Mine companies are neither using ash in back filling nor allocating mines for ash filling to power plants. 4.6 Stowing of Underground mine: Coal companies to use bottom ash in place of sand in stowing of underground mines. 4.7 Use in agricu lture: • Apprehension of heavy metal up take in food chain. • Indian Council of Agriculture Research to issue guidelines for ash use in agriculture. • EAC of MoEF is not allowing use in clearance of new projects. 4.8 NTPC's major stations are located in remote locations at coal pit heads. There is no avenue for ash utilization except low lying area filling , ash– dyke raising and mine filling. Pit head stations have large capacity and they generate large quantum of ash like 3,000 MW station generates 20,000 tons of ash every day. Restrictions imposed on use of fly ash in low lying area filling, mine back filling I stowing and for agricu lture purposes in environment clearan~es given by EAC of MoEF for new projects inspite of mandate in the gazette notification for use of ash in these areas (Vindhyachai-V, Kudgi- I, Mouda-11, Solapur, Meja, Tanda-11 , Nabinagar, Gadarwara-1 , Unchahar-IV, Darlipali-1, Karanpura, Bongaigaon, Sipat-1). Developed countries like USA, Lara-I, North China, European countries, etc. are also not achieving 100 pc ash utilization (see box at page 18 top).