CHENNAI: Concerned at the problems in availability of sand and its rising cost, the Public Works Department is considering a proposal to allow the use of quarry dust as an alternative material in construction activity.
Technically, quarry dust has been found to be suitable. At least in the Chennai region, where the demand for sand is very high, the department wants to use quarry dust for its projects, according to a senior government official.
There are other benefits in using quarry dust, which is produced as a residue after extraction and processing of rocks.
It is less expensive and provides greater structural stability, the official says.
It was used by the Railways in some projects.
Officials and some leading players in the construction industry say though of late, shortage of sand is not as severe as it was some weeks ago, the price has shot up.
It is now in the range of Rs.5,000-6,000 a load. Once the northeast monsoon becomes vigorous and rivers are in flow in and around the city, the availability will become a problem again.
According to a paper published in the February 2007 issue of Indian Construction (a journal of the Builders’ Association of India), the level of utilisation of quarry rock dust in industrialised nations such as Australia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom has touched more than 60 per cent of its production.
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