PHYSICO-CHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS NEAR THERMAL POWER PLANT – A CASE STUDY

Fly ash disposal & utilisation is becoming of a national concern due to increasing pollution issues and its efficient management to prevent further degradation of environmental pollution. At present, generation of flyash is in tune of about 130 million tone and likely to be increased in future. Thermal power plants (TPPs) generate a huge amount of fly ash during combustion of coal and face fly ash management problems. Open dumping of fly ash can deteriorate the groundwater quality by runoff. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to evaluate ground/surface water quality situated near thermal power plant (PTPP) located in eastern UP state in India. Water, flyash and coal samples from various locations in and around PTPP were collected and subjected to insitu and physico-chemical analysis. Coal samples found high ash content. pH values of ground water samples found acidic character with high conductivity values. Physico-chemical analysis of flyash and water extract indicated leaching tendency of soluble ions into water which enhance over a period of time. Urgent need towards flyash utilization & management is a cause of concern.