More Fly Ash Use Sought

The ministry of environment and forests has proposed to make use of fly ash in construction, laying of roads, reclamation of low-lying areas mandatory under the amended Fly Ash Rules which will be notified soon. The draft Fly Ash Amendment Rules were notified last month.

The Fly Ash Rules notified in September 1999 are being amended to make it compulsory for all agencies engaged in the construction of buildings within a radius of 100 kms from coal or lignite based thermal power plants to use fly ash bricks or blocks or tiles.

Beginning with a minimum of 25 per cent of fly ash products, the new rules require 100 per cent use of fly ash products in due course as per the schedule specified, an official statement said.

 

The release added that the rule would apply to all construction agencies such as housing boards and private builders of apartments, hotels, resorts and cottages among other things.

The state governments will be the enforcing authorities for the new rules while it was the State Pollution Control Boards in the original rules.

While the 1999 rules only required the manufacturers of clay bricks or tiles or blocks within a radius of 50 kms from thermal power plants to mix at least 25 per cent of ash, the new rules put the onus of use of fly ash on the user agencies.