The ministry has issued the direction to encourage the agency to use alternative materials for road construction activities. The direction has been issued to all construction agencies, keeping in mind the abundant availability of fly ash in power plants in the country.

The ministry has also issued guidelines for using fly ash in the embankments of roads and flyover work. The ministry, in its order, stated that it is felt necessary to promote use of fly ash bricks, blocks and tiles in the national highways works. Physical requirement, general quality and dimension of all such fly ash bricks, blocks and tiles shall meet the relevant Indian standard.

The same has been communicated to chief secretaries of all states and /UTs, top officials of public works departments, road construction and highways departments of the states and UTs, besides to the chairman of the NHAI. According to the guideline, the thermal and lignite power plants should supply fly ash free of cost. They have to bear the transportation charge too. A senior NHAI official, citing the guideline, said several power plants are not adhering to the guidelines.

Still, they have approached power plants to use fly ash for construction activities and in some incidents, they have been paying for the transportation due to the scarcity of earth. NHAI officials have approached NLC and some other power plants within 100 km radius to get fly ash for the six-laning of the Poonamallee-Walajapet road project.

News Source : Construction World