Kunal Bhatia
Project report on starting a fly ash based brick manufacturing unit covering aspects related to investment, running cost, market and return on investment.
kunal.bhatia@aol.in
Introduction Fly Ash bricks are made of fly ash, lime, gypsum and sand. These can be extensively used in all building constructional activities similar to that of common burnt clay bricks. The fly ash bricks are comparatively lighter in weight and stronger than common clay bricks. Since fly ash is being accumulated as waste material in large quantity near thermal power plants and creating serious environmental pollution problems, its utilisation as main raw material in the manufacture of bricks will not only create ample opportunities for its proper and useful disposal but also help in environmental pollution control to a greater extent in the surrounding areas of power plants.
Market Potential The country consumes about 180 - 250 billion bricks (figure an estimate from various sources including governmental and private), exhausting approximately about 5000 acres of top soil land is made unfertile for a long period. The Government is seriously concerned over soil erosion for production of massive quantities of bricks, in the background of enormous housing needs. The excellent engineering property and durability of fly ash brick enlarges its scope for application in building construction and development of infrastructure, construction of pavements, dams, tanks, under water works, canal lining and irrigation work etc. Enormous quantities of fly ash is available in and around thermal power stations in all the states. The demand of bricks could be met by establishing small units near thermal power stations and to meet the local demand with less transportation costs.
Basis and Presumptions i. It is assumed that the unit will operate on single shift basis for 300 working days in a year. ii. The salary and wages for staff and labour has been taken into