Use of Fly Ash in Road Construction stressed

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Secretary BK Patnaik on Tuesday asked various departments to explore the possibility of using fly ash as a sub-base material for construction of roads and land development to enhance their productive use.Presiding over a meeting on formulation of guidelines for utilization of fly-ash, the Chief Secretary said fly-ash, by virtue of its properties, can be used as a substitute for soil for filling up quarrying voids, low-lying areas and coal pits. This has been proved world-wide and the Centre for Fly Ash Research and Management (C-FARM) has also made successful experiments in this field over the last three years.  Ministry of Environment and Forests has also prescribed compaction and reclamation of low-lying areas by fly ash within 100 km radius of coal or lignite-based thermal power plants.  It was decided at the meeting that Nalco will identify such abandoned quarries and undertake necessary survey in the area in consultation with the locals. As a long- term measure for management of fly ash, Nalco has been asked to expedite the process of construction of fly-ash pipelines and complete it by June 2012. The guidelines of Odisha State Pollution Control Board will be strictly adhered to while transporting the ash. The Nalco authorities were also advised to expedite the process of setting up a cement factory for use of fly ash. The Rural Development, Works, Water Resources and Panchayati Raj Departments were directed to explore the possibility of using fly ash as a sub-base material in construction of roads. Revenue and Agriculture departments have also been advised to work out the possibility of using fly ash for soil amendment and acidity  treatment of soil. He also advised these departments to take up awareness activities regarding many misgivings about fly-ash produced by power plants and take appropriate steps for popularisation of its use. According to experts, low-lying areas and quarrying voids reclaimed with fly-ash can be safely used for habitat construction, parking lots and playgrounds including agriculture, floriculture, horticulture and forestry.  Angul District Collector Siba Mishra, Nalco Executive Director PR Choudhury, Director, Nalco, SS Mohapatra and senior officials from Forest and Environment, Industries, Steel and Mines departments and the OSPCB were present.