Govt. launches mobile App called 'Ash Track'

To ensure better management of fly ash produced from thermal power plants, the Centre has launched a web-based monitoring system and a mobile app 'Ash Track'

Launched by Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New and Renewable Energy R.K Singh, these platforms are expected to propel better management of the 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 and so on.

"At present, 63 percent of the fly ash is being utilised, and target is for 100 percent utilisation of the fly ash. For this, road contractors and construction engineers need to know the benefits of using fly ash in construction. Officials will work out the per kilometer construction costs of roads using fly ash, and if it is found to be expensive, then measures need to be taken to reduce the cost by way of tax structure, subsidies and transportation services," Singh said.

The app shows coal-based power plants situated within the radius of 100 km and 300 km from a given location. User can select power stations from where he/she wants to take fly ash. Ash availability, distance from user's location, details of contact person will be displayed. Once selected, the user may apply online for allocation of ash, following which an SMS will be sent to the applicant and the respective power plant instantly.

The app also shows perspective users within the radius of 100 km and 300 km of power plants. Power stations can see the location of prospective ash users surrounding the power plant like - cement plants, NHAI, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) projects, brick producers, and so on, and can subsequently contact the prospective users for supply of ash

The app also contains data of plant wise, utility wise and state wise ash utilisation status in the country, along with details of real time ash generation and utilisation.

The thermal plants are required to regularly update fly ash generation, utilisation and stock on the web portal and the app. This would allow effective monitoring and reviewing for increasing ash utilisation. This would also help in protecting environment in terms of reduction in fugitive emissions, saving of precious top soil and conservation of land for sustainable development.

For the unversed, fly ash, the end product of combustion during the process of power generation in the coal based thermal power plants, is a proven resource material for many applications of construction industries and currently is being utilised in manufacturing of Portland Cement, bricks/blocks/tiles manufacturing, road embankment construction and low lying area development.

On a related note, users can download the Ash Track mobile app from Google Play Store for Android OS and from App Store for Apple IOS.

--ANI