That the ash stored in the ash ponds is further utilized in low-lying area reclamation, road construction, filling, and other activities. That the Central Pollution Control Board has already framed a detailed guideline for the utilization of ash in the reclamation of lowlying areas, which was published by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) in its Office Memorandum dated 28.08.2019. That the Respondent No.2/LPGCL is following the guidelines issued by the MoEF & CC, as stated, for the utilization of ash stored in the ponds for the reclamation of low-lying areas. The process includes obtaining a request letter from the land owner, framing an agreement between the owner and LPGCL, obtaining an NOC from the UP Pollution Control Board, transportation of ash from the pond to the low lying area using covered trucks, filling the low lying area, land levelling, soil capping at the top of the ash, and proper compaction for the further gainful utilization of reclaimed land in agriculture or other activities. The respondent No.2 has adopted detailed ash management process and a note on the same providing the details of the ash management at the unit is being annexed herewith and marked as ANNEXURE-A-1 and the same are not being repeated herein for the sake of brevity.
