C.V. Patil, former director of education, University of Agriculture Sciences, Raichur, has said India produced the highest quantity of fly ash every year through thermal plants but there was no focus on using it for other purposes.
Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, he said that annually India produces over 256 million tonnes of fly ash. “ But, unlike other countries, India uses only around 55 per cent of the byproduct in various fields and less than 2 per cent is being used in agriculture,” Dr. Patil said.
He said that the reason for the high production was the low-quality of coal available in India which generates more fly ash.
“Yet, this limitation could be transformed into an advantage if the government lays emphasis on using the byproduct in various sectors,” he said.
Dr. Patil said that though close to 50 per cent fly ash is used by cement companies and 15 per cent for filling used mines and only 2 per cent in agriculture despite its advantages.
He said in Raichur district, fly ash is being used in some 500 acres of land for agriculture but due to the heavy transport cost more farmers are reluctant to use it.
He urged the government to offer subsidy so that more farmers will be able to use fly ash on their fields.
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