(a) whether the use of fly ash in construction of houses affects the environment adversely;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any survey in this regard;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether Delhi High Court has issued any notice to the Government in this regard; and
(f) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a) No, Sir.
(b) Does not arise.
(c) &(d) : Studies undertaken by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre have shown that the concentration of Radon in rooms built with fly ash bricks was between 74 to 159 bequerels per cubic metre. This is far less than the limits of 1000 bequerels per cubic metre set by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
(e) The Hon`ble High Court of Delhi issued a notice to Government of India in response to an intervening application in an ongoing Public Interest Litigation.
(f) The Government has filed an affidavit in reply to the above, stating that even the recent study conducted by National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra has established that the concentration of Radon are far below the limits permitted by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. In addition, it was also stated that Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has permitted the use of fly ash as construction material.