Environment ministry instructs NHAI to use fly ash for road construction

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate (MoEFC) has urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and other agencies to utilise fly ash to construct roads within a radius of 300 km of lignite or coal-based thermal power plants. According to the guidelines, the NHAI officials told the media that it stays in the paper as the power plants are not coming forward to supply the material without any charges, including transportation. The Ministry issued an order to encourage the agencies to use alternative materials for road construction activities. The order applies to all the construction agencies, being aware of the abundant availability of fly ash in power plants in the country. The MoEFC has also issued guidelines to utilise fly ash in roads and flyover work embankments. The Ministry has informed in their order that they have felt the necessity to promote the utilisation of fly ash bricks, tiles and blocks in the national highways works. The general quality, dimension and physical requirement of all such fly ash bricks, blocks and tiles must meet the required Indian standard. The same was discussed with the chief secretaries of all states and UTs, road construction and highways departments of the states and UTs, top officials of public works departments. Image Source Also read: NTPC to conduct contest for ideas on utilisation of fly ash