Don't treat agriculture soil with fly ash: Govt

TNN Mar 7, 2013, 12.45AM IST

Tags:

• Odisha state pollution control board|
• Department of Agriculture|
• ash|
• agriculture department

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Monday asked the agriculture department to conduct more reliable scientific studies regarding use of fly ash as soil ameliorator for agricultural purposes.
Chief secretary B K Patnaik said fly ash should not be used for treating soil of agriculture land till reliable and safe data was available on scientific studies of fly ash for agriculture purposes, a released said.

He also asked the Odisha State Pollution Control Board to organize awareness camps for potential users and producers of fly ash. Besides, he said the departments concerned should fix a target for use of fly ash in government building, manufacturing of cement, drainage and canal lining.
The officials, present at the meeting, said 30 thermal power plants of 1,1400 MW capacity, operating in Odisha, generated about 23 million tonne (MT) of fly ash every year against consumption of about 52 MT of coal per annum. This is likely to increase further in the coming years with installation of new proposed power plant projects.
The officials said steps have been initiated to utilize ash fly in road construction, mine back filling, cement manufacturing and brick making. Besides, a large quantity of fly ash is being used for raising the dyke heights of ash ponds.