Mysuru | March 02, 2015: For several months now construction work in Mysuru district has come to a grinding halt as supply of sand has been hit, according to the Mysuru City Corporation and Public Works Department officials. With river sand becoming scarce following restrictions on sand extraction, the need to find an alternative has gained significance. In fact Minister for Public Works H.C. Mahadevappa had issued a circular to use M-sand in place of river sand. M-sand is crushed aggregates produced from hard granite stone which is cubically shaped with grounded edges, washed and graded with consistency to be used as a substitute of river sand.
However, officials at the Mines and Geology Department say that Mysuru district does not have the raw material to manufacture M-sand. There are few other alternatives such as robot silica or sand, stone crusher dust, according to geologists who wished to remain anonymous.
Meanwhile, many engineers and contractors are of the opinion said that M-sand had no load bearing strength and durability for any mixture classifications. The district unit of the Mines and Geology department had identified 84 blocks in the district to extract sand. The district administration had sent a proposal seeking environmental clearance. But the SEIAA (State Environment Impact Assessment Authority) rejected the proposal as the rivers Kapila, Cauvery and Lakshman Tirtha are perennial rivers and the National Green Tribunal Bench has banned sand extraction from any perennial river.
(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)