Jamshedpur, Oct 3: Power major Tata Power will be enhancing supply of fly ash to the multinational Lafarge Cement from next year.

While flay ash is a residue in the thermal power generation process, it is one of the basic ingredients for manufacturing of a special kind of cement. Both these units are city based and are located side by side in Jojobera.

Highly placed Tata Power sources informed The Telegraph that it had made a request some time back to the authorities of Lafarge Cement to increase the intake of fly ash from them. ”Recently the authorities of both these companies had a meeting where Lafarge Cement officials have agreed enhancing the intake of the fly ash since the multinational is all set to increase their cement production from next year following huge demands of their product,” sources informed. Chief executive officer (CEO) of Tata Power Ashok Uppal confirmed that Lafarge Cement has agreed increasing the intake of fly ash. “We had proposed to Lafarge Cement urging it to increase its intake of fly ash. We held a discussion with the officials of the company and from next year we would be providing more of fly ash to it,” Uppal remarked.

At present aout 800 tons of fly ash is been given by Tata Power to Lafarge Cement every day for production of cement. After the new arrangement next year the supply of the fly ash is expected to exceed over 1000 tons daily.

The sources conceded that by agreeing to increase the intake of fly ash from Tata Power, Lafarge Cement has helped the latter is taking care of its wastes. “We have to take every care for the proper disposal of our residue to ensure that there is no pollution. Although we are not selling the fly ash (the laws does not permit the sale of wastes), Lafarge Cement's consumption of the waste helps Tata Power in taking care of their wastes in a big way,” sources commented.

Interestingly the Jhikpani-based Associated Cement Company (ACC) in adjoining West Singhbhum had approached Tata Power authorities for increasing the supply of fly ash to the unit. ACC currently takes about 100 tons of fly ash from Tata Power a day. ”ACC authorities had approached us some time back to increase the supply of our waste as they too need to meet their requirements. We thought about the matter and finally turned it down die to a few pertinent problems,” sources commented.

Senior functionaries of Tata Power added: “it would be easier to make fly ash available to Lafarge Cement than ACC since the former is located just beside our company. And the movement of the fly ash is made through a long covered pipe which connects these two units.”

Sources said in case of ACC transporting the fly ash would be 'bit of problem' considering that fact that huge amount has to be taken to West Singhbhum by road. “Moreover we have to be very cautious that there is no pollution even while transporting the materials,” they added.