New Delhi, December 1: The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) on Saturday launched a three-week contest, where participants are invited to put forth the most innovative ideas for ash utilisation. The state-owned company produces nearly 60 million tonnes of ash per year from coal-based power stations affiliated to it.

The competition begins today, December 1 and ends on December 24, 2018. The state-owned company has invited participation from NGOs, professionals, researchers, scientists, institutes, organisations, business schools, startups, as well as individuals. The results would be screened by NTPC on its website on January 15, 2019. To learn how to apply, visit - mapp.ntpc.co.in/ashcontest. NTPC Invites Bids for Agro Residue Based Fuel as Part of Environment Friendly Drive in Delhi-NCR.

The participating individual or group, which presents the "most innovative" idea, will be awarded Rs 5 lakh. The first and second runner ups would be rewarded with Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh rewards, respectively. Two consolation prizes of Rs 1 lakh each would also be given.

"The objective of this competition is to find out innovative methods/ ideas which are commercially viable and practically implementable for achieving 100 per cent ash utilization at NTPC in environmental friendly manner,” the company said in a statement posted on its website.

The NTPC has been searching for ways in which the ash it continuously produces could be used in a sustainable way. The company had last month invited invited expression of interest (EoI) for construction of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete roads at its plants to demonstrate use of this technology, a company official said.

Earlier, the company has successfully completed similar project at Dadri station as per Indian Roads Congress (IRC) specifications & accreditation. Moreover, 1.2-km double lane stretch are being constructed at Ramagundam and Farakka stations. These projects are being developed by NETRA, the R&D wing of NTPC.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 01, 2018 07:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).