Bhubaneswar : The Odisha government will issue a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for fly ash disposal this week, focusing on scientific fly ash disposal methods, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari announced. The updated SOP seeks to streamline and regulate the handling of fly ash generated from thermal power plants in an environmentally responsible way.
Highlighting the severity of the issue, the Minister said that the state is actively consulting both central and state agencies to devise a more sustainable approach. The key measures include:
-
Avoiding the creation of new ash ponds inside village areas
-
Preventing displacement of local residents due to ash pond construction
-
Shifting from truck-based transportation to pipeline slurry systems
-
Relocating fly ash to uninhabited zones far from human settlements
These steps aim to reduce air pollution, ensure safer disposal practices, and minimize public inconvenience.
The problem remains particularly acute in Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, and Angul, which produce 94% of Odisha’s thermal electricity. Fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, has already caused major environmental and health challenges in these districts. In several cases, ash pond breaches by private power companies damaged property and disrupted local ecosystems.
The government, along with thermal power producers and other concerned departments, will finalize the SOP. Once implemented, the framework will provide a long-term and sustainable solution for ash management in coal-intensive districts of the state.
