Tamil Nadu: Builders demand ban on export of m-sand

Chennai: With Tamil Nadu construction industry ‘nearly’ paralysed due to the ban on river sand and shortage of m-sand (manufactured sand), builders in the state demand ban on selling m-Sand to other states and export to foreign countries. R. Radhakrishnan, past president, Builders’ Association of India, said that almost 20 lakh construction workers of the state have lost jobs due to the shortage of the sand and most of them are moving to other states seeking employment. “To keep the construction industry of Tamil Nadu functioning, we need 40,000 loads (4 lakh metric ton) of sand every day. After the court’s ban on river sand, we are getting mere 4,000 loads,” Radhakrishnan added. 

On November 29, the Madurai Bench of Madras high court ordered the closure of sand quarries in Tamil Nadu within six months. However, the court had directed the government to chart out rules and regulations to import quality river sand from abroad. It is learnt that Tamil Nadu has the production capacity of 12,000 loads of m-Sand every day. “But more than 50 per cent of the m-Sand manufactured in the state is being sold to states like Karnataka and Kerala. The m-sand has also been exported to countries like the Maldives. The government should ban the selling of m-sand to other states and export, as the local industry needs more M-sand,” Radhakrishnan urged. The association also demanded the government to file an appeal to revoke the ban on river sand quarrying.

The Builders’ Association of India also alleged that laziness and lethargic attitude of government officials in processing the applications submitted to regularise the unapproved plots also affect the construction industry. “More than 50,000 applications have been submitted by the plot owners. But only 500 applications were processed in the last 6 months. The stalemate in the industry not only affects the builders and workers but also affects the public,” Radhakrishnan added.