Even as the utilisation of fly ash during 2012-13 has come up to a level of more than 62 per cent, the State Government has stepped up efforts to regulate production and utilisation of this environment-polluting industrial waste through assessment by a third party on various compliances.
The issue of fly ash utilisation has been in focus during last two years. As per reported figures of various fly ash-generating industries, its utilisation during 2012-13 has come up to a level of over 62 per cent.
While reviewing the fly ash management efforts undertaken thus far, Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra on Saturday directed that a third party validation of the compliance of industries about utilisation of fly ash and blast furnace slag be conducted.
Additional Chief Secretary, Finance UN Behera; Principal Secretary, Forest & Environment RK Sharma; Principal Secretary, Water Recourses, SC Mohapatra; Principal Secretary, Works NK Pradhan; Secretary, Commerce & Transport G Mathivathanan; and Secretary, Panchayati Raj DRK Singh attended the meeting.
In order to attract more entrepreneurs for setting up modern fly ash brick manufacturing units, the Chief Secretary advised the MSME Department to provide lucrative incentives and assistance to them.
The Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), more particularly thermal power producing units, were asked to promote large-scale fly ash brick making on PPP mode with other entrepreneurs. The void areas in the lands belonging to the Revenue Department and IDCO would be filled up with fly ash.
As per the reported figures of 31 fly ash-generating industries, a total of around 25.307 million tonnes of fly ash was generated during 2012-13, against which 62.42 MT (62.42%) was utilised through various outlets. This includes 3.98 per cent utilised in fly ash brick manufacturing, 4.13 per cent in other industries, 39.31 per cent in land filling, 9.42 per cent in embankment and dyke raising and 5.59 per cent for other miscellaneous purposes.
Secretary, Energy PK Jena said the Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) is producing fly ash bricks for its own consumption. “It has been decided that all civil works in OPGC expansion unit will be done though fly ash bricks,” said Jena, adding that the OPGC is promoting local entrepreneurs for manufacturing of fly ash bricks.
The Chief Secretary advised Jena, who is also the Special Secretary of PPP Cell of the Planning & Coordination Department, to work out a model PPP plan for manufacturing of ash bricks.
Meanwhile, a Fly Ash Research Centre has been set up in the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) premises. The SPCB has already organised workshops on fly ash management and utilisation in Talcher and Bhubaneswar. It was decided that three more workshops would be held in different other parts of the State where fly ash generation is high.
Construction of Government building with fly ash bricks has been undertaken, for which the demand for fly ash has also been generated. Works Department engineers suggested for manufacturing of ash bricks conforming to the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) specifications. The VAT on fly ash brick manufacturing has been waived.
The Chief Secretary advised to examine the possibilities of extending capital subsidy, interest subsidy and land at subsidised rate for setting up these industries. The SPCB was asked to link the fly ash generating industries with the brick manufacturing units for assured supply of raw material.
The Union Ministry of Environment & Forests was moved to allow use of fly ash for backfilling of mine voids. Representatives of the TTPS, NTPC and Nalco were also present at the review meeting.