Ranchi, Sept. 25: Jharkhand Pollution Control Board chairman Balmukundnath Shahdeo said the use of bricks made of fly-ash would be made mandatory in construction works within a radius of 100 km of a coal or lignite thermal power house.

At a seminar on the use of fly-ash, Shahdeo said: “By the end of 2005, we will ensure 100 per cent use of fly-ash mixed bricks, tiles and blocks. Mining lease and licence of those brick kilns which do not comply with the norms will be cancelled.”

Action will be taken according to the sanctions of the Environment Protection Act. The same rules would apply to thermal power houses, which will have to give both a monthly and an annual report on fly-ash use,” he said.

Pollution board member secretary S.K. Narnoli said: “The annual requirement of bricks in India is estimated to be around 714.2 crore while in Jharkhand it is 140.0 crore with a daily requirement of 46 lakh.”

Bihar Caustic and Chemicals representative S.P. Agarwal said: “Fly-ash, a freely available waste product from thermal power plants, has low permeability, making it ideal for bricks. Fly-ash bricks and composite blocks are widely used in building and paving work. These are fast replacing clay bricks,” he said.

Jamshedpur-based Usha Martin group representative A.S. Mathur said: “Contrary to common belief, the compressive strength of fly-ash brick is almost twice that of a normal brick.”