Fly Ash Notification Implementation

The ministry of Environment & forest Government of India has issued Notification NO. S.O. 763(E), Dated 14.09.1999 & the same is amended on 27.08.2003, regarding the utilization of fly ash/Bottom ash generated from Coal/Lignite based thermal power plant, to protect the environment, conserve top soil & prevent the dumping & disposal of fly ash discharged from coal or lignite based thermal power plants. Further there is need for restricting the excavation of top soil for manufacture of bricks & promoting the utilization of fly ash in the manufacture of building material & in construction activity within the radius of 100 Km from coal or lignite based thermal power plants.

As per the above said notification fly ash/bottom ash generated from lignite/coal based thermal power plants in to the brick manufacturing & other construction activities all manufactures of clay bricks, or tiles or blocks for use i.e. construction activities, within 100 KM radius from lignite/coal based thermal power station are required to mix at least 25% of ash with soil on weight to weight basis.

Every construction agency engaged in the construction of buildings within a radius of fifty to one hundred kilometers from coal or lignite based thermal power plants shall use fly ash bricks or blocks or tiles or clay fly ash bricks or cement fly ash bricks or blocks or similar products or combination aggregate of them in such construction as per the following minimum percentage (by volume) of the total bricks, blocks & tiles, as the case may be, used in each construction project, namely:-

(i) 25 per cent by 31 st August 2004;

(ii) 50 per cent by 31 st August 2005;

(iii) 75 per cent by 31 st August 2006; and

(iv) 100 per cent by 31 st August 2007;

In respect of construction of buildings within a radius of 50 kilometers from a coal or lignite based thermal power plants the following minimum percentage (by volume) of use of bricks, blocks and tiles shall apply:-

(i) 50 per cent by 31 st August 2004;

(ii) 100 per cent by 31 st August 2005;

Regarding the implementation of said notification Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has taken following steps:

1.	Identified the Brick Kilns located within 100 Km radius from Coal/Lignite based thermal power plants with the help of revenue department.
2.	Concern District Collector have been asked through DO letters dated 27.01.2003 & 11.07.2003, to initiate action against the defaulting brick kilns by way of canceling lease agreement.
3.	News paper advertisement has been given.
4.	Co-ordination meeting of all head of thermal power plants with Hon’ble chairman, Member Secretary & Senior Officers of the Board.
5.	As per the provisions of the rules Regional officers of the Board submitted proposals to the District Collectors to take action against non complying Brick Kilns.
6.	As per the directions of Hon’ble High Court Delhi in his order dated 05.08.2004 Regional Officers of the Board has issued closure directions to those brick Kilns those who are not complying with the guide lines of the above said notification.
7.	The Board has filled Three Nos of affidavits regarding steps taken to be take & difficulties expressed by Brick manufacturing association.
8.	One Brick Kiln Manufacturing association approached the Environment Minister, Govt. of Maharashtra and expressed their difficulties . Accordingly, Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Govt. of Maharashtra called meeting on 24/11/2004. In the meeting it was decided to consider the request of the brick manufacturers and allow them to restart their manufacturing activity subject to some conditions:
9.	After due considerations it was decided to allow restarting of brick kilns subject to following conditions:
i.	The brick klin owner shall submit an undertaking to revenue authorities on Stamp paper of Rs. 100/- with copy to MPCB for utilization of fly ash in proportion as per the notification.
ii.	The permission initially be granted for one year.
iii.	The permission may be without prejudice to the action taken in the Court matter.

Status for the Year 2004-2005 of Fly Ash Utilizations By Coal / Lignite based Thermal Power Plants Located in Maharashtra.

In Maharashtra State Electricity Board is playing Major roll in producing Electricity. Maharashtra State Electricity Board has seven power generating stations. There are two private Coal / lignite based thermal power plants in Maharashtra i.e Tata Power Company Chembur, Mumbai & Reliance Energy, Dahanu, Dist. – Thane. The Details of Thermal Power Plants, its Fly ash generation & utilization is shown in annexure-I

Action plan of fifteen Years of each Coal / lignite based Thermal Power plants are shown in annexure-II