CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -ASH TRACK Mobile App has been launched by the Ministry of Power for better management of fly ash produced by thermal power plants by providing an interface between fly ash producers (Thermal Power Plants) and potential ash users such as – road contractors, cement plants etc..

Detailed explanation-2: -The Fly Ash Management and Utilisation Mission, besides monitoring the disposal of annual stock of unutilised fly ash, will also see how 1,670 million tonnes of legacy (accumulated) fly ash could be utilized in the least hazardous manner and how all safety measures could be taken by the power plants.

Detailed explanation-3: -Fly Ash Management and Utilisation Mission seeks to monitor the disposal of annual stock of unutilised fly ash. It will also look after how 1,670 million tonnes of legacy (accumulated) fly ash could be utilized in least hazardous manner. Mission will further see, how all safety measures could be taken by power plants.

Detailed explanation-4: -The important areas of ash utilization are indicated below: i) Building Sector for use in bricks, blocks, tiles, cement, concrete, plaster, etc. ii) Land reclamation, filling low lying areas, raising ground levels. iii) Roads, embankments, ash dykes, road blocks, kerb stones, etc.

Detailed explanation-5: -Fly ash is a byproduct of pulverised coal or coal dust in power generating plants and is being increasingly used as a substitute for cement in making bricks. But there are limits to fly ash usage because, in concrete structures, not more than 30 percent of cement can be substituted by fly ash.