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New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PM Modi to inaugurate, lay foundation of key infra projects in Kanpur on Friday
LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kanpur to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a series of development projects worth several thousand crores on Friday. A key highlight of PM's Kanpur visit will be the inauguration and laying of the foundation stone for five units of Khurja, Obra, and Jawaharpur Thermal Power Plants. All the power projects will significantly spruce up the power infrastructure in the state. The PM is expected to address a public rally at Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSA) ground. In preparation for the Prime Minister's visit, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an on-site inspection, on Wednesday, and reviewed the venue's readiness with senior officials. Another highlight of PM's visit will be inauguration of a crucial section of Kanpur Metro Rail Project. The newly-completed stretch from Chunniganj Metro Station to Kanpur Central Metro Station, constructed at a cost of over Rs 2,120 crore, comprises 14 planned stations including five newly-built underground stations.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Vizag scientists find ‘positive features' of irradiation on quartz crystals
The impact of radiation on concrete structures in nuclear power plants (NPPs) is causing frequent repairs, requiring rehabilitation of structures. The University of Tokyo published a paper on the impact of irradiation on concrete structures, by which the crystalline quartz, in aged concrete, is converted into amorphous state. This is the negative aspect, affecting the soundness and durability of concrete. However, N. Bhanumathidas and N. Kalidas, founder directors of the Visakhapatnam-based Institute for Solid Waste Research & Ecological Balance (INSWAREB), during the course of their review on the subject, found certain 'positive features of irradiation on quartz crystals' which convert the non-reactive crystalline quartz to reactive amorphous silica. They interacted with the Scientists of University of Tokyo, and prepared a review report for the benefit of students, researchers and faculty. 'This opens up enormous opportunities for the cement-concrete industry,' say Dr. Bhanumathidas and Mr. Kalidas, who are involved in research on fly ash bricks and had developed fly ash, lime and gypsum (FAL-G) bricks as an alternative to clay bricks to reduce the threat of massive generation of fly ash by Thermal Power Plants (TPPs). Commercial scope The couple found during their review of the research findings that conversion of quartz from crystalline (unreactive) to amorphous (reactive) state through radiation is the redeeming feature to benefit the cement and concrete industry with value addition of multibillion rupees, in addition to serving sustainable development goals. 'The crystalline quartz can be converted at commercial scale into amorphous silica by designing suitable reactors. If its reactivity is studied and established, such product can be used as complementary cement input to improve the quality. This will be more helpful where low grade limestone hampers the quality of clinker,' says Mr. Kalidas. 'By processing high-pure quartz, amorphous silica can be produced that may be akin to 'silica fume' whereby the value addition to cement and concrete could be potentially enhanced. By subjecting the coarse fly ash and pond ash to radiation in commercial reactors, the crystalline fly ash can be converted to amorphous ash to the extent of quartz content, rendering value addition to the inert ash. With over 2,860 million tons of ash in ash ponds occupying about 65,000 acres of land in India, this may prove the most sustainable avenue for exploitation in many aspects. The economic spin off is about ₹2.86 trillion in value addition of the product and ₹650 billion in reclaiming the land occupied by ash ponds,' he says. 'The NTPC has expressed its readiness to take up this project on a large scale once it is brought to a logical stage of implementation. Meanwhile, efforts are in progress to escalate the subject to the attention of the Prime Minister due to the criticalities associated with implementation of this project,' Mr. Kalidas told The Hindu. 'Ippei Maruyama of the UoT has also expressed willingness to partner in the research by INSWAREB, if the Government of Japan approves and funds it. He, however, wanted the Indian researchers to take care of activation by neutron, safety of material, and the running cost of the nuclear plant for the research,' he adds.
