Environment Ministry issues amendments to notification relating to responsibilities of Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) to dispose fly ash and bottom ash

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, by way of a Gazette Notification has recently issued amendments to a previous notification regarding ash utilization (summarized in the e-mail in trail) and has laid down the following:

1. The new Thermal Power Plants commissioned on or after 30st December, 2022 are required to follow the first compliance cycle similar to the compliance cycle specified for thermal power plants having utilisation per cent. less than 60% as specified in the preliminary notification;
2. Persons or user agencies who have been served notice by the owner of thermal power plants, if they have already tied up with other agencies for the purpose of utilisation of ash, must inform the thermal power plant accordingly, and confirm whether they can use any ash in reduced quantity or not;
3. Persons or user agencies who have been served notice by manufacturers of ash bricks or tiles or sintered ash aggregate or other ash based products, if they have already tied up with other agencies for the purpose of utilisation of ash based products are required to inform the manufacturer of ash bricks or tiles or sintered ash aggregate or other ash based products and accordingly use ash based products in reduced quantity or stop the usage;
4. Further, specifications have been laid down with regard to new as well as operational thermal power plants intending to temporarily store ash in an operational pond or dyke.

The Amendments have gained effect immediately.

A Copy of the Notification has been linked below for your ease of reference.

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change