Chhattisgarh HC Flags Fly Ash Hazards | 21 Nov 2025

Why in News?

The Chhattisgarh High Court has expressed serious concern about persistent environmental and public safety hazards caused by fly ash from thermal power plants and coal mines in districts like Korba. 

Key Points

• About Fly Ash:
  • Fly ash is a fine particulate residue generated from burning coal; contains silica, alumina, iron oxide, and trace heavy metals.
  • Classified as an industrial by-product and regulated under Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)’s Fly Ash Utilisation Guidelines.
  • Mainly used in cement, bricks, mine backfilling, road construction, and land reclamation.
  • Unmanaged fly ash leads to respiratory problems, groundwater contamination, and soil infertility.
  • India aims for 100% fly ash utilisation, but many states, including Chhattisgarh, fall short.
• About Korba Mines:
  • Korba district in Chhattisgarh is known as the “Power Capital of India” due to its large coal reserves and concentration of thermal power plants. 
  • It hosts the major Korba Coalfield, operated mainly by SECL (South Eastern Coalfields Limited), and forms one of India’s largest open-cast coal mining clusters with key mines such as Gevra, Dipka, and Kusmunda.
  • The Gevra mine is among the largest coal mines in Asia by output, making Korba a critical contributor to India’s domestic coal supply and a major feeder for multiple State and Central power plants.
  • Coal in the region has high ash content (30–40%), resulting in significant fly-ash generation. This leads to persistent issues of air pollution, dust emissions, land degradation, and road deterioration due to continuous heavy-vehicle movement.