Maharashtra builders seek govt intervention on sand shortage

The Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry, the state’s apex body of real estate developers, has sought intervention of the government here on the shortage of sand, a basic input for the building trade.

Sand prices, it complains have surged in recent months from Rs 2,500 per brass (100 cu ft) to Rs 12,000 per brass, due to the problem in supply. MCHI says the statewide requirement is 65.55 million tonnes in a year.

In a communication to state revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat, it said if construction work stopped, nine million workers at various construction sites across the state would be jobless, including 2.7 million in the metropolis. Such a slowdown would also hit other industries liek cement, steel, sanitaryware, tiles and marbles.

MCHI president Sunil Mantri said, “Construction sites at various places across Mumbai city have come to a halt on account of acute shortage in the supply of sand and exorbitant rates being charged by the sand suppliers.”

He has asked for removal of barriers to import of sand from neighbouring states, removal of excise duty and other taxes on manufacturing of artificial sand, incentives to innovative technology development and steps to implement dredging of sand as agreed in a recent high court order.

The high court had considered the matter after an earlier shortage and the state government had formulated a policy in the form of a Government Resolution (GR) on October 26. However, the GR has not been implemented, says MCHI, resulting in unauthorised dredging. Meanwhile, the shortage continues.

Recalling the MCHI’s joint initiative with the state government, announced early this year for providing 500,000 affordable homes in the coming five years, the MCHI president said availability of sand was crucial to meet target.