About

• Fly ash is a fine powder that is a byproduct of burning pulverized coal in electric generation power plants.
• Fly ash is a pozzolan, a substance containing aluminous and siliceous material that forms cement in the presence of water. When mixed with lime and water, fly ash forms a compound similar to Portland cement.

Issues with Fly ash

• Fly ash is a highly toxic substance known for causing health and environmental problems. It can contain lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and uranium. 
• When fly ash is deposited in water bodies they contaminate aquaculture and may leach into landmasses, leading to toxicity of agricultural land and drinking water.
• Fly ash cannot be disposed-off in the open field because it pollutes the air, soil and groundwater.
• Long inhalation of fly ash causes serious respiratory problems.
• Fly ash also causes siltation problems.
• There has been a significant push for promoting the utilisation of fly ash in brick manufacturing and other construction activity.

Uses of fly ash

• Fly ash can be used as prime material in many cement-based products, such as poured concrete, concrete block, and brick. 
• One of the most common uses of fly ash is in Portland cement concrete pavement or PCC pavement. 
• Road construction projects using PCC can use a great deal of concrete, and substituting fly ash provides significant economic benefits. 
• Fly ash can be used in reclamation of wastelands.
• Fly ash has also been used as an embankment and mine fill.

Regulations in India

• Over the years, India’s dependence on coal has gone up and so has the production of fly ash. India has the world’s fourth-largest coal reserve and the second-largest producer of coal, with more than 50% of its demand for electricity being met by coal-based thermal power plants.
• Indian regulations stipulate that coal plants should ensure the fly ash they generate is made available, free of cost, to the cement and concrete industries, so that it’s recycled instead of polluting the environment. 
• The cost of transportation of fly ash is to be borne collectively by the power plant and the industry concerned.
• However, the disposal of fly ash is a serious issue as more than 20 percent of fly ash generated in the country remains unutilised, according to data from the Central Electricity Authority. 
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) issued a draft notification in December 2020 for utilisation of fly ash by coal- and lignite-based power plants. It introduces a penalty regime for non-compliance for the first time.

Why in News?

• In a significant move towards environmental protection and resource utilization, the Ministry of Coal (MoC) is actively working to ensure the proper disposal and repurposing of fly ash generated by thermal power plants. 
• By disposing this byproduct of coal-based power generation, the Ministry is leading the charge towards a sustainable future, prioritizing environmental well-being and fostering a circular economy.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2031808