National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) facilities in East Uttar Pradesh have embarked on an eco-friendly initiative to manufacture durable building materials using fly ash, a by-product of thermal power generation. Aimed at curbing pollution and preserving natural resources, the initiative includes the production of aggregates, bricks, sand, and tiles, all under the brand 'Vikalp'. The company emphasizes stringent quality control and effective branding to promote these sustainable building alternatives.
Sanjeev Kumar, director of the Rihand project under the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), has confirmed the integration of fly ash into the production of sustainable building materials, aiming at dual benefits: preserving natural resources and reducing environmental pollution.
NTPC's Rihand and three other plants in East Uttar Pradesh have embarked on an innovative journey to use fly ash, a by-product of thermal power generation, to produce durable, branded building materials. This initiative aims not only to enhance material durability but also to curb environmental contamination.
In an interview last Saturday, Kumar elucidated the multi-faceted benefits of this initiative. He said, "Our vision encapsulates a new range of products, including ash-based aggregates, BIS-certified ash bricks, ash sand, and tiles, all under the brand name 'Vikalp.'" The first retailer of these innovative products is now established in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, with plans to further extend into the East Uttar Pradesh region.
Kumar provided insight into the sheer volume of ash produced by thermal power plants. The Rihand plant alone consumes an average of 40,000 tons of coal daily, which results in 13,000 tons of ash. This ash, primarily used for mine fills and landfilling in ramps and roads, amounts to a significant volume when combined from all thermal plants. Yet, the current utilization measures for ash fall short of its disposal volume.
Sanjeev Kumar Saxena, NTPC's General Manager (Ash Management Corporate), explained the potential savings that ash utilization could offer. He said, "In India, 300 billion bricks are consumed yearly. If even half of this demand was met with ash bricks, vast areas of fertile land would be conserved."
Efforts to promote ash bricks through private entities previously faced quality control issues, leading to a tarnished reputation for these products. The NTPC's initiative, however, emphasizes stringent quality checks and effective branding to increase acceptance and utilization of ash products.
Apart from the Rihand plant, the Vindhya, Shaktinagar, and Meja NTPC units are also gearing up to include these innovative ash-based products in their portfolio. Company officials expressed the superiority of these products over conventional building materials, urging stakeholders to adopt these sustainable building alternatives in their construction activities.
In conclusion, NTPC's innovative use of fly ash as building material aligns with the rising trend towards sustainable production and consumption. By effectively converting waste into resources, this initiative serves as a crucial step towards a greener and more sustainable construction industry, having the potential to significantly decrease environmental pollution, conserve fertile soil, and limit the depletion of natural resources.
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