Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Empowerment, and Energy Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo has proposed innovative solutions for managing waste generated by Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) during a review meeting held at Lok Seva Bhavan.
According to an official press release, Singh Deo suggested using fly ash to produce bricks for housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and repurposing fly ash-filled ponds as tourism hubs to promote sustainable development.
The Deputy Chief Minister also emphasized the importance of utilizing fly ash in agriculture, after consultation with the Pollution Control Board, and announced plans to introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for fly ash management soon.
He also suggested identifying abandoned mines for fly ash disposal to address pollution concerns effectively.
The meeting, chaired by Singh Deo, was attended by Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Suresh Pujari, Principal Secretary of the Energy Department Vishal Dev, Jharsuguda Collector Aboli Sunil Naravane, and senior OPGC officials.
Discussions also focused on allocating additional space for ash ponds, with Pujari advising local consultations to identify suitable locations.
OPGC, which meets 30% of Odisha’s electricity demand, reiterated its commitment to sustainable waste management and environmental protection.
