Project Haritha – Reclamation (Greening) of Phospho Gypsum Heaps

A collaborative project with TERI, New Delhi

“made in India innovative solution to a Global problem”

Coromandel International, Visak project - Reclamation (Greening) of Phospho

Gypsum (PG) heaps offers an environmental solution to a perennial problem of
fertilizer plants with in the country and world over. This project has attracted the
nation’s attention by winning 3 innovation awards so far

 Skoch Renaissance - Platinum category award 2014

 India Manufacturing Excellence Award ( IMEA - Frost & Sullivan )
 Breakthrough Innovation Award 2014
 Project of the Year Award 2014
The Phospho Gypsum (PG - large volume and low hazard solids) generates as a byproduct from
Phosphoric acid manufacturing plants. World over as well as in India, disposal of PG in open
yards or disposal in stack yards has drawn attention due to likely threat to the environment i.e
release of fine dust and leachates.

Using Fresh soil, water, planting of shrubs and grasses, use of chemical fertilisers etc, were
several attempts among the various solutions tried on the PG ridden land over many years but
nothing could give a convincing sustainable solution.

An area of 100 acres that has been the focus of much debate over the last 20 years among local
communities, regulatory authorities and subject experts. A barren greyish waste land having
acidic substrate (pH 4.41) with no vegetation or life forms in sight has become a bone of
contention.

Coromandel, Visak - Environment team took on the challenge of reclaiming Gypsum heaps
using Biotechnology supported Bioremediation developed by TERI (led by Dr Alok Adholeya),
New Delhi i.e Mychorhizal technology assisted bioremediation that involves no use of good
earth and chemical fertilizers but micro-organism named Mycorrhiza to turn this wasteland into
a green belt.

The joint team (Coromandel & TERI ) successfully reclaimed the impacted land and below are
the details:-

Phase 1 (2013-14 & 2014-15)

Total area planned for reclamation : 18 acres (18,000 nos.)
Land covered with plantation : 12 acres (12,000 nos.)
To be completed by July’15 : 06 acres (6,000 nos.)

Phase 2 (2016 -17 & 2017-18)

Total area planned for plantation : 12 acres (12,000 nos)

Area in between plantation will be covered with different varieties grass specices
Based on literature, substrate properties, local agro-climatic status and performance at nursery
stages on phospo gypsum, six (06) varieties of plant species were tried and the below are the
details (kindly update the table with Jan 2015 data)

Due to challenging sediment conditions initially the plantation was done on raised beds and
with the confidence gained in the first phase of the plantation subsequent plantation is done on
flat surface.

Plantation on raised beds Plantation on Flat surfaces

Water requirements to the plantation are worked out on an average 2 litres per plant per day.
Considering the larger area of plantation, to reduce the dependence on man power – drip
irrigation was designed which is helping in water conservation too.

The landfall of Hud Hud on Andhra Pradesh on 12th October 2014 caused widespread damage
at the project site.

Nursery structure and samplings with it at project site damaged significantly by Hud Hud

Hud Hud caused significant damage to established plants at project site (Oct, 2014)

TERI team worked very hard to restrict mortality of established plants to a minimum extent
(survival rate ~ 93%) and within a week the site regained its earlier (pre Hud Hud) status.
 Survival of plants on raised bed even after heavy damage caused by Hud Hud (Nov, 2014)

Roots penetration into the Phosphogypsum is observed and nutrient availability had increased
as a result. Plant growth is observed compared to any other normal plantations. During
monsoon vegetable cultivation was tried and successfully done. Seasonal flowers are also being
tried currently. Now days, different local plant species are also tried to examine their potential
to be grown on phospo gypsum substrate.
Phosphogypsum sediments now proved to support plantation and penetration of plant roots to
deeper areas will lead to spread of sediment reclamation microbes.

Project has completed “plantation phase” (2014-15) and the subsequent year will be
“stabilisation phase” (2015-16) where in the reclamation microbes establish completely and
start affecting the much desired reclamation of sediments which will be 2 to 3 years process.
By the end of total 5 years of the plantation cum reclamation process the project team hopes
Phosphogypsum sediment will be back to nature.

The project is going to set a benchmark for all phosphoric acid plants within the
country as well as across the world for improving environment.
 Project site – Before Bioremediation

Project site - After Bioremediation (12 months)

  Frost & Sullivan ~ The Economic Times sponsored – India Manufacturing
Excellence - Breakthrough Innovation Award 2014 & Project of The Year
Award 2014

Skoch Renaissance - Platinum Award 2014