Lok Sabha Question No. 25 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-21
Subject: Utilization of fly ash from power plants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 25

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.06.2019

## Utilization of fly ash from power plants

## 25. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed all the State Pollution Control Boards to strictly implement the central notification on the utilization of fly ash from coal and lignite based thermal power plants by December 31, 2018;
- (b) If so, the details thereof;
- (c) Whether this policy was notified in 2009 but remained on paper and its implementation has been tardy;
- (d) If so, the reasons thereof, and
- (e) The number of States that are following this policy and steps taken or being taken in consultation with States to implement the policy on the ground to curb already  high pollution?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b):

CPCB vide letter dated 8 th November, 2018 has directed all State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to ensure compliance of relevant provisions of the fly  ash  notification  by  all  brick  manufacturing  units,  agencies  and  authorities  undertaking construction  of  building,  roads,  fly  overs  or  approving  its  design  within  300  km  from coal/lignite  based  thermal  power  plants  (TPPs)  and  Mines  within  50  Km  from  TPPs  by 31.12.2018. CPCB has also directed them to coordinate with the State Governments so as to ensure that State level Monitoring Committee meets atleast once in every quarter.

(c) & (d)The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) issued the first Fly Ash notification on 14th September, 1999, which has subsequently been amended in 2003, 2009 and 2016 in order to enhance the fly ash utilization in the various infrastructure development projects.As per Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report, fly ash generation and  utilization  was  196  million  ton  and  132  millionton,  respectivelyfrom  167  coal/lignite based TPPs in the countryduring 2017-18. The utilization of fly ash has increased from 66.6 million-ton in 2008-09 to a level of 132 million-ton in 2017-18. The percentage of fly ash utilization has increased from 57.11 % in 2008-09 to 67 % in 2017-18.

( e) Coal based thermal power plants are located in 20 States. The Notification mandates the use of fly ash or fly ash based products in construction projects, construction of embankments of  roads  or  flyovers,  reclamation  of  low  lying  areas,  backfilling  or  stowing  of  mines, agriculture etc. The cost of transportation of ash up to 100 km distance shall be borne by the Thermal Power Plants (TPPs). The transportation cost between 100 km to 300 km shall be shared equally between the user and TPPs. It further prescribes that the coal or lignite based thermal power plants in the vicinity of the cities shall promote, support and assist in setting up  of  ash-based  product  manufacturing  units  so  as  to  meet  the  requirements  of  bricks  and other  building  construction  materials.Expert  Committee  led  by  MoEFCC  on  increasing utilisation prepared action plan for enhanced utilisation for fly ash utilisation in the sectors namely mines, roads, bricks, cements etc. The Government of India has also reduced GST rates from 12-18% to 5% on fly ash, fly ash bricks and fly ash aggregates with 90% or more fly ash content. The Ministry of Power has launched a web-based monitoring system and a Fly  Ash  mobile  application  named 'ASH  TRACK'  to  facilitate  information  exchange between TPPs and the users.

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