Parliament Question: Safety protocols during transportation of fly ash

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3510 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 SAFETY PROTOCOLS DURING TRANSPORTATION OF FLY ASH 3510 # DR. BHIM SINGH: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the prescribed environmental and safety protocols (covering, dust control, leakage prevention etc.) are not being fully followed at many places during transportation of fly ash from thermal power plants to road projects; and (b) if so, the steps taken by Government to monitor such cases, take action against the culprits and ensure strict compliance with the protocols in the future? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK) (a) & (b): The handling, transportation and utilization of fly ash are governed by the provisions of the Fly Ash Utilization Notification, 2021 and its amendments issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The responsibility for adherence to these provisions rests with thermal power plants, transporters and user agencies, under the regulatory oversight of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs). The said Notification, inter alia, provides for mandatory utilization targets, environmentally sound handling and transportation of fly ash, submission of periodic reports by thermal power plants, and levy of environmental compensation in case of non-compliance, with monitoring by CPCB and SPCBs/PCCs under applicable environmental laws. ***********