The State government has decided to sell imported sand from Malaysia on the lines of the public distribution system (PDS) to those who are constructing buildings, at a subsidised cost of Rs. Rs. 3,500 a tonne.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T. B. Jayachandra told presspersons on Monday that sand would be imported from Malaysia to bridge the growing demand-supply gap in the State. Persons seeking sand have to submit all sanctioned building plans and plan expenditure to local authorities to avail themselves of it at subsidised prices, he said.
Though the State had also made a beginning by allowing manufacture of M-sand, it did not yield the desired result in meeting the growing demand. Therefore, import of sand was inevitable. Currently, the sand mafia has been selling sand at ₹80,000 to ₹ 1 lakh per truckload and creating artificial shortage to make huge profits.
To seek aid
Mr. Jayachandra said nearly 1.83 crore arecanut plants and 45 lakh coconut palms were uprooted owing to high-speed winds and rainfall in Malnad and coastal districts. Details were being collected to submit a memorandum to the Centre seeking aid under the National Disaster Relief Fund, he said.
