CHENNAI: The recent import of sand from Malaysia at V O Chidambaranar Port in Tuticorin has raised hope for city developers in finding new avenues to tide over the shortage of river sand for construction work, but the consignment is yet to leave the port premises.Touted as the first import of sand in Tamil Nadu, builders said it would help in a big way to reduce sand rates. The import by a private firm comes at a time when leading developers' bodies in the state are exploring the possibilities of ferrying sand from abroad to overcome the prevailing acute shortage of the key construction material.According to industry sources, a private firm based in Pudukottai has imported the consignment comprising 55,000 tonnes of sand from Malaysia last week. The cost of imported sand is estimated at Rs 60 per cubic feet, the sources said adding that river sand sourced from sand quarries in Tamil Nadu is sold anywhere between Rs 110 and Rs 120.
Honorary secretary of Builders Association of India, Southern Centre, Chennai, S Ramaprabhu said the import has boosted the efforts of developers, who are hit by non-availability of adequate sand for constructions, towards importing river sand from South-East Asian countries including Malaysia and Cambodia. "One consignment of 55,000 tonnes can cater for a week's requirement of sand in Chennai and peripheries.Sand could be delivered at the construction site at Rs 80 per cubic feet as an additional Rs 20 should be added for transporting from the port to respective destinations," he said. The state government should facilitate the initiative as it would be reduce the dependence on our riverbeds leading to environmental exploitation, he added. "The Tamil Nadu government must take a cue from neighbouring Karnataka as the latter has already taken up the initiative to source sand from foreign countries," he said.
When inquired about the reported restraint order issued by the district collector against transporting the imported sand, the collector did not respond while his PA (general) said he did not know anything about it.
Honorary secretary of Builders Association of India, Southern Centre, Chennai, S Ramaprabhu said the import has boosted the efforts of developers, who are hit by non-availability of adequate sand for constructions, towards importing river sand from South-East Asian countries including Malaysia and Cambodia. "One consignment of 55,000 tonnes can cater for a week's requirement of sand in Chennai and peripheries.Sand could be delivered at the construction site at Rs 80 per cubic feet as an additional Rs 20 should be added for transporting from the port to respective destinations," he said. The state government should facilitate the initiative as it would be reduce the dependence on our riverbeds leading to environmental exploitation, he added. "The Tamil Nadu government must take a cue from neighbouring Karnataka as the latter has already taken up the initiative to source sand from foreign countries," he said.
When inquired about the reported restraint order issued by the district collector against transporting the imported sand, the collector did not respond while his PA (general) said he did not know anything about it.
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