Without stricter checks, directive to 'utilise' fly ash may prove futile

The latest notification does not address chronic problems of badly managed and risky disposal of fly ash by polluting units, say environmentalists

The latest government attempt to ensure the safe and sustainable disposal of fly ash--a toxic residue left over from burning coal--could end up damaging India's farmlands, water bodies and fragile habitats, say researchers and activists. Fly ash is known to cause air and water pollution.

Coal and lignite-based thermal power plants should "ensure 100% utilisation of ash generated by it in an eco-friendly manner", said an April 22, 2021 notification of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Over the last two decades, the Indian government has been issuing similar notifications on the disposal and utilisation of fly