Karnataka's move to stem sand mining

The Karnataka government has made it mandatory for the Public Works Department to use only manufactured sand for construction, law and parliamentary affairs minister T B Jayachandra said.

A secretary-level committee, comprising those from mining and industry departments, among others, was formed last week to work on a comprehensive draft on mining and stone-crushing policy and it will submit recommendations within a month.

According to the minister said the supply of sand in the region is only of 800,000-900,000 tonne as compared to a demand of about 3.3 million tonnes a month in Karnataka, resulting in sky-rocketing prices.