Maharashtra Revenue Minister and Guardian Minister of Nagpur district, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, has directed all concerned agencies to work on a ‘mission mode’ to ensure the scientific and timely disposal of fly ash generated at the Koradi and Khaparkheda thermal power stations, as well as the accumulated ash stored in ash ponds.

 

The directives were issued during a special review meeting held at the District Planning Committee hall. Bawankule emphasised that ash disposal should be carried out without causing any adverse impact on the environment, agriculture, or water resources. Under the action plan, user agencies including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), Public Works Department (PWD), MOIL and Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) have been instructed to submit their ash requirements from the ash ponds to the District Mining Officer (DMO) within 15 days. To accelerate the disposal process, Mahanirmiti has constituted a special committee comprising three Chief Engineers. The committee will hold review meetings every fortnight and monitor ash generation, lifting, filling and utilisation activities.

 

The Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) has also been directed to conduct drone surveys of abandoned mines that can be used for ash filling. To avoid delays in administrative approvals, officials have been tasked with preparing a technical note regarding the transfer of certain powers of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to its Nagpur office. The meeting also stressed increasing the use of pond ash as an alternative to river sand. WCL and MOIL have been asked to prioritize the use of ash for mine reclamation and backfilling in accordance with the guidelines of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS). The District Mining Officer will regularly monitor the implementation of the plan and submit monthly progress reports. Bawankule expressed confidence that coordinated efforts by the administration, Mahanirmiti and other stakeholder agencies would effectively address the ash management challenge in the region.