‘Let PWD import sand directly’

The Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners’ Federation has urged the State government to permit the Public Works Department to import sand directly and distribute it to the lorries that have already been registered. Addressing mediapersons, federation president Sella Rajamani said that there was an acute shortage of sand in the State as the government was selling the sand only at three centres. “Construction activities have been crippled,” he added. After the recent floods, sand dunes had formed at many places and the government should identify such areas and open quarries, he said.   Mr. Rajamani said that a unit of sand was sold at ?1,330 in government quarries whereas the sand imported from Malaysia and kept at the Ennore port was being sold at ?10,000 a unit. The rent fixed for transportation through lorries for a distance of 25 km was ?2,500 and the unloading charge for one cubic foot was ?125. Hence, the imported sand was being sold at an additional price of ?8,670 per unit. He said that lorries that were not registered online were also being provided sand. “If the PWD delivers the sand to the construction site, only the politically backed lorry owners will benefit,” he added. He wanted the PWD to directly import the sand and sell it to the people.