Chennai | Oct 25, 2017: A few months ago, construction activities had come to a grinding halt in Tamil Nadu after acute shortage of sand drove up the price of the key building material. The entire construction industry was up in arms against the government, which took over the distribution. Frequent protests by stakeholders forced the authorities to open new sand quarries that helped bring down sand rates giving relief to the realty sector.
Six months later, with the state operating only six quarries, the sector is again staring at the same crisis. Against the daily demand of 25,000 loads of sand in TN, barely 3,000 loads are available. The cost of sand has doubled since March, and is being sold anywhere between `110 and `120 per cubic feet. But this time, around, there is a stoic silence over the non-availability of adequate sand with no protest from the realty sector.
Reason: Illegal sand mining that is going on unabated, catering to about 32% of the sand requirement from the construction industry, say sources.
On an average, about 8,000 loads of sand are being illegally mined from the major riverbeds like Araniyar, Kosasthalaiyar and Palar, the Cauvery delta region and along the Thamirabarani river. Sources in the construction sector blamed the nexus between politicians and implementing officers for illegal sand mining. "The illegally mined and smuggled sand is not brought into the city," a builder seeking anonymity said. "It is meant to cater construction work being carried out on the peripheries such as Tambaram, Ambattur, Poonamallee and Kelambakkam," said a source engaged in supply of sand.
While earthmovers are used to plunder the natural resources at night, local demand is being met by rudimentary means like filling sacks and transporting them on two-wheelers to the construction sites. "Illegal sand mining has increased in the past two months in Kancheepuram, where mining is banned. While the smuggler makes at least `1,000 a day, the buyer gets quality sand for construction," an engineer said.
Government quarries across the state have been shutting down in the past month with rain raising water levels in the rivers, forcing them to abandon mining. But these have become the operating grounds for anyone wanting to get a load of sand. With no monitoring by authorities, official sources said illegal mining has a significant backing of politicians. "This illicit activity has a strong backing of politicians, who provoke villagers against opening additional quarries. When an attempt was made to monitor a quarry in Cuddalore by installing CCTV cameras, it evoked strong opposition from local politicians, who threatened to shut the quarry," a government official said.
R Panneerselvam, president of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Coordination, said illegal sand mining was robbing the government of revenue and filling private pockets. Environmental activist G Sundarrajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal said such mining would have an adverse impact on the groundwater levels as sand helps in percolation of water. "The groundwater in river beds is more than what we can store in dams," he said.
When contacted, Tiruvallur collector E Sundaravalli told TOI that illegal sand mining had stopped in the district after an offender was booked under the Goondas Act a month ago. "We are taking stern action against the offenders with squads that have been constituted under the four Revenue Divisional Officers in the district for swift action on any complaints on illegal sand mining," she added. On the other hand, Kancheepuram collector P Ponniah was not available for comment.
(Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)