The Hindu-3 Nov 2017
The Builders’ Association of India (BAI) has called upon the State government to encourage import of river sand from Southeast Asian countries, even as a petition on the seizure of imported river sand is pending with the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
Pointing out that it has become virtually impossible for those in the construction industry to get river sand in necessary quantity in Tamil Nadu, S. Ramaprabhu, secretary, southern centre – BAI, says the option of import has become imperative. While the Karnataka and Kerala governments have banned the quarrying of river sand, Andhra Pradesh is making the mineral available free of cost only for local firms with a complete restriction on inter-State movement of the river sand.
“Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Philippines and Cambodia are willing to sell us river sand at a rate which we find, will be cheaper than the prevailing rate of domestic sand. As for Malaysia’s river sand, the cost will be ₹90 or ₹100 per cubic feet (cft) whereas the rate of the domestic sand is ₹120/cft. A minimum of ₹20 per cft can be saved,” Mr. Ramaprabhu says, adding that the demand for river sand still persists due to lack of popular acceptance for manufactured sand (M-sand).
In Mumbai, the construction industry is using river sand from Philippines and as for Cambodia, one has to ascertain the quality parameters of the mineral before ordering it, he adds.
However, a senior official of the Public Works Department (PWD), which handles the construction of various types of government buildings, says manufactured sand (M-sand) is the “ideal alternative” and the department is now using only M-sand for all its requirements. “Let there be no concern about quality and availability of M-sand. Our State has enormous potential for this variant of sand,” the official says, adding that the rate of M-sand is around ₹70 per cft.
- Venkat Mitra, consulting civil engineer, says the current shortage of river sand in Tamil Nadu is “artificial,” as the construction sector is experiencing a lull for the last few years. The authorities can easily set the situation right. He also feels that the State still had a good amount of river sand, which can be tapped.
