Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to introduce a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for fly ash disposal this week, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari announced on Monday.
The new SOP aims to address longstanding concerns about the environmental and social impacts of fly ash generated by coal-based thermal power plants.
Speaking to reporters, Pujari said the state is in active consultation with both central and state-level agencies involved in thermal power generation to improve fly ash management protocols.
One of the key provisions of the proposed SOP is to prohibit the construction of ash ponds in or near villages to prevent the displacement of local populations. Instead, fly ash will be transported as slurry through pipelines to designated, uninhabited areas, thereby minimizing air pollution and reducing the burden of truck-based transport on communities.
“Districts like Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, and Angul, which together contribute 94% of Odisha’s thermal power output, have borne the brunt of the environmental fallout,” Pujari said.
He noted that fly ash has become a serious hazard in these regions, with several instances of ash pond breaches causing damage to homes, farmlands, and water bodies.
The government’s move is expected to be a significant step toward regulating industrial waste management and safeguarding the rights and health of affected communities.
