Fly Ash Disposal in Mine Voids and Low-Lying Areas: Report of a Field Visit to Bokaro (Jharkhand)

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change issued an Office Memorandum (OM) on 28th August 2019, permitting – and promoting – the use of fly ash in the filling of abandoned mine voids, in low-lying area reclamation, and as a soil conditioner in agriculture. The OM directs that all existing conditions in Environmental Clearances of thermal power plants that prohibit the use of ash via these modes should be replaced with conditions that allow it. Along with the OM, new guidelines have also been issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which are to be followed when dumping fly ash in mine voids/low-lying areas. As part of ongoing research on the potential social and environmental impacts of such modes of fly ash utilisation, a team from Manthan Adhyayan Kendra visited some abandoned mine voids and low-lying areas in Bokaro, Jharkhand. This note presents the findings of the field visit, along with a preliminary analysis.

Report Published on 3rd August 2022