Sand lorry owners’ federation raises concern over poor quality of M-sand in T.N.

Members of the Tamil Nadu State Sand Lorry Owners Federation person flagged concerns implicit mediocre prime of M-sand owing to the mushrooming of unauthorised M-sand manufacturing units crossed the State.

The Federation noted determination are astir 4,000 M-sand manufacturing units successful the State. Of this, lone 478 M-sand manufacturing units were approved for prime by the Public Works Department (PWD).

S. Yuvaraj, president of the Federation, said respective constructions relied connected M-sand, peculiarly successful the lack of stream soil quarries implicit the past fewer years. The State has a regular request of astir 25,000 loads of M-sand. In Chennai alone, the request is astir 8,000 loads of M-sand daily, and the shortage of 2,000 loads is met done adulterated sand. M-sand is priced astatine ₹55 to ₹60 per cubic foot.

While licences for cognition of quarries and crushers units are provided by the Mining Department and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), astir of them are functioning without prime checks. This has led to the usage of substandard materials successful residential constructions and authorities projects, helium said.

In a ailment lodged astatine the Fort St. George constabulary station, the Federation sought enactment against the authorities acrophobic successful the PWD and Natural Resources section for failing to enforce M-sand rules and curb amerciable M-sand manufacturing units. The Federation demanded that each units functioning without due support indispensable beryllium allowed run lone aft a reappraisal by a committee formed by the State government.

Officials of the PWD said the merchandise prime certification was voluntary. The department’s high-level committee has, truthful far, provided prime support certificates to 500 units and it is valid for 3 years for those who ain quarries, and for 1 twelvemonth for crusher units. Quality checks are conducted for merchandise support and the renewal of certification. The Natural Resources section is successful the process of framing the rules.