Rain stops sand supply, builders bear the brunt in Mangaluru

Mangaluru: Unavailability of sand has disrupted construction work in Mangaluru. People in the city are unable to get sand and if at all they succeed, they have to shell out an exorbitant amount.

The reason for the shortage is the ban on sand mining in CRZ areas during monsoon (in Dakshina Kannada district it is between June 15 and August 31) imposed by the district administration.

“No sand is available for construction work and even those who had collected it earlier are now selling it at an exorbitant rate. A load (200 CFT) of sand which  cost Rs 3,000 earlier is now sold at Rs 8,000 to 10,000. Generally people go for construction work during monsoon as water is easily available for curing. But this year they are unable to do it,” Civil Contractors Association president M Purushotham Kottary said.

Sand is available in non CRZ areas. But as these blocks have not received environmental clearance, sand cannot be lifted. Thus officially sand mining has come to a standstill in the district. However there are cases where sand mining continues illegally and it is sold at a very high rate.

“The district administration has not taken any alternative measures to provide sand. It has to take immediate step to get clearance for sand mining in non CRZ areas or ensure that the stocked sand (which is sold at a high price) is seized and distributed. There is another alternative. Huge amount of silt (with about 80 per cent sand content) collects at the estuary where the government is undertaking dredging of the old port. Authorities should take measures to atleast distribute this sand,” he demanded.

"The ban might be lifted only in August first or second week. Till then government should take alternative step to provide sand," he added.