HYDERABAD | Feb 26, 2016: Fly ash, a by product of coal-based power production, is emerging as the new financial and sustainable alternative in the field of construction materials.

With the presence of large number of coal-based power projects in India, enormous quantities of fly ash is being produced, thus creating a large scope for fly ash based construction materials. National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) alone produces around 45 to 55 million tonnes of fly ash per year.

“Fly ash can be used in making bricks, tiles, blocks, among other materials which can be used in construction. The construction materials made from fly ash are comparatively higher in strength, compact, and durable. There is vast potential for fly ash based bricks and other products in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, as enormous quantities of ash is being produced at power stations located in these states,” said Dr Alind Rastogi, CFO and Executive Director (Environment and Ash Utilisation and Business Excellence), NTPC.

NTPC is making efforts to popularise the use of fly ash based materials in construction sector. As part of its initiatives, NTPC held a workshop with various stakeholders from construction industry, brick manufacturers, entrepreneurs, research organisations, NGOs working in the space of environment protection and officials in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Of the total fly ash produced at NTPC’s Ramagundam Super Thermal Power Station located in Karimnagar District, 90 per cent is used for productive purposes like manufacturing fly ash bricks, cement industry, stowing of ash into abandoned Singareni coal mines, among others. It may be noted that fly ash bricks were used in the construction of all the buildings at NTPC plant and township.

“NTPC has already taken up production of fly ash bricks at its plants and using them in all it constructions. We want to popularise fly ash products in Hyderabad, where realty and construction sector is buzzing. There is a need to promote the use of such materials in buildings and other infrastructure projects. Cost of transporting fly ash from power plants to city is the only constraint which needs to be addressed,” said Dr Rastogi. NTPC is focusing on Hyderabad as it has a huge real estate and construction sector. Officials are in talks with the Telangana State Pollution Control Board, R&B Department, to ensure that fly ash or fly ash based bricks transportation from power plant to city is exempted from tax.

Making Way:

• Fly ash can be used in making bricks, tiles, blocks used in constructions
• NTPC alone produces 45 to 55 million tonnes of fly ash
• NTPC eyes Hyderabad realty and construction sector to dispose off fly ash produced in an environment friendly way

(Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/)