Civic body to make fly ash compulsory for construction

Mumbai: Developers in Mumbai can soon use an eco-friendly option of fly ash for their construction activities in the city. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to make use of fly ash compulsory for construction and road maintenance works across the city.

According to a directive issued by State Urban Development (UD) Department in December last year, the use of fly ash based construction material will be made mandatory for construction activities in cities having a population of 10 lakh and more. In addition to this, fly ash can also be used for road construction and repairs and the building bye-laws will be amended accordingly.

“The Development Plan (DP) 2034 will soon have a provision that 20 per cent bricks used for construction activities should be made from fly ash. The cement would also contain 20 per cent fly ash,” said a senior civic official from the DP department.

If fly ash based material is used for construction activities, it would help a great deal in conserving the environment. Hazards caused by fly ash would also be reduced, he added.

There are 16 thermal power plants in the state, which produce 16,896 kilos of fly ash. As it is mostly disposed in open, it leads to river and air pollution. To resolve the problem, the state government had decided to use fly ash in construction activities.

Housing expert Sunil Mantri termed the move to use fly ash in construction activities as a ‘win-win situation’ for all. “Thermal plants generate fly ash in huge quantity and its disposal is big problem, whereas sand used to make bricks is in acute shortage. Fly ash is eco-friendly and economical and its use will also reduce consumption of sand,” he said. The fly ash produced by coal-fired thermal power plants can be used as prime material in blocks or bricks.