VIJAYAWADA: Despite orders from the State Government that management of the Vijayawada Thermal Power Station give priority to brick units while supplying fly ash, shortage of raw material is still forcing the units to reduce their productivity.

Though there is a huge demand for fly ash bricks in construction industry, brick manufacturers are not in a position to cash in the demand, as a major chunk of fly ash is being transported to cement industries.

Over 350 manufacturers from Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, West Godavari, Nalgonda, Kurnool and Hyderabad districts are into brick making for the last 15 years. They have relieved the VTPS of the responsibility of dumping fly ash, as they are using it as raw material for bricks.

Sources estimate that the industry requires 40 crore bricks a year and half the demand is met by fly ash bricks. Non-availability of clay to make bricks in conventional mode has given a boost to fly ash brick industries. The VTPS used to supply 1,500 tonnes a day to the brick industry, which is the lone user of fly ash. Following a demand for fly ash from cement industries, the VTPS has begun to supply it to new customers.

Solution

"Now the supply to brick industry is 150 tonnes to 200 tonnes a day, as cement industry has become the top priority for the VTPS," says Kodali Srinivasa Rao, proprietor of Kodali Fly Ash Products in Kamayyathopu.

The brick manufacturers had approached the Chief Minister seeking a solution to their problem. Subsequently, the Department of Energy issued orders in September directing the VTPS to allocate 50 per cent of the fly ash output to brick units. "Even after three months, the orders are not being implemented and the cement industries are enjoying the lion's share in fly ash output. If the situation persists, many brick units will be closed soon," says K.V. Subba Rao, president of the VTPS Fly Ash Brick Manufacturers Association.

Divisional engineer (general) of the VTPS T. Nagaraju says there is a drop in fly ash output owing to renovation works at the plants. "Once the renovation works are completed, the output of fly ash will be increased," he says.

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