The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Shortage of sand hits construction work

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 03, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Shortage of sand hits construction work

T. Ramakrishnan

Suspension of quarrying in two sites in Tiruvallur district cited as one of the reasons

The price has shot up at least by Rs. 10 a cubic feet
Builders have been forced to go to places as far as Villupuram and Sirkazhi

CHENNAI: Lack of sand and the high price are posing a challenge to the construction industry in Chennai, even as the debate over the issue has become politically intense.

Inadequate number of quarrying sites and suspension of quarrying in two sites in Tiruvallur district are among the factors cited for the present crisis.

The construction activity in and around the city has come almost to a standstill.

The livelihood of workers employed by the construction industry and lorry owners has also been affected, the Southern Lorry Owners Welfare Association said in a representation to the Chief Minister last week.

Because of the shortage, the price has shot up, say industry representatives. It has gone up at least by Rs. 10 a cubic feet. What was around Rs. 20 a cubic feet now stands at Rs. 30.

In view of the short supply, builders have been forced to go to places as far as Villupuram and Sirkazhi, say the representatives. This has pushed up the price, says M.K. Sundaram, a general council member of the Builders Association of India (southern centre). If more quarrying sites are opened, the problem will be sorted out, according to L. Moorthi, chairman of the BAI’s southern centre.

Rules tightened

In the last one month, political parties, including the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the All- India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, organised agitations to highlight the “violations” of the rules governing sand quarrying.

The protest has led to stricter supervision and tightening of the rules.

Quarry resumes work

A senior official of the Public Works Department, which is in charge of sand quarrying, acknowledges that the quarrying sites in Tiruvallur did not function for most of the time in August.

But a few days ago, one site resumed operations. The Collector’s permission has been sought for one more. But, the official says the sites in Kancheepuram district, not Tiruvallur district, meet a major share of the city’s demand.

Periyanatham and Pazhayaseevaram in Kancheepuram district and Chettythangal, close to Kancheepuram town but located in Tiruvannamalai district, are supplying over 2,000 loads to the city.

According to an official estimate, 4,000 lorry loads are required every day. On August 30, the three sites supplied nearly 2,700 loads, the official points out.

To ensure better supervision of sand quarrying, the Collectors can be allowed to do the job with the help of officials of the Revenue, Public Works and Geology and Mines Departments. Last year, the PWD netted Rs. 130 crore. Keeping this as the base, the operations can be auctioned, says an official.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail