Construction activity in Mysuru, which had slowed down in the last few days owing to non-availability of sand, appears to be on the brink of a halt.
Ravindra Bhat, member of Builders’ Association of India (BAI), Mysuru Chapter, said the stock of sand that builders had accumulated before the sand trucks went on strike eight days ago had exhausted. “Construction activity is on the verge of coming to a halt in the city,” he said.
The crisis over availability of sand began after the government disallowed extraction of sand from the river bed in the wake of a Supreme Court order.
Shivakumar, a civil engineer in Ramanuja Road, who had taken up contracts for construction in four places, said he was forced to stop the work in all places where sand was required. “Whatever little sand we were able to secure by paying a high price in the last few days is also not available now. I am not able to keep my commitment to the clients,” he said.
Another civil contractor R. Prasad, who is building a compound wall for an industry in Hebbal Industrial Area, said he was making do with the alternative M-sand or Manufactured sand, which is crushed aggregates produced from granite stone. “There is no resistance from owners to use this as it is for building a compound wall. But, owners of individual houses will be hesitant to use any alternative to river sand,” he said.
Mr. Bhat too said a majority of the public, who are building houses, have apprehensions over the use of alternatives. “But, there is no option before us. The builders, who are engaged in constructing commercial complexes and residential apartments, will use alternatives like M Sand and slag from iron and steel industry,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mysore City Local Lorry Owners’ Association president B. Revanna said the sand truckers’ strike, which began on November 17, will continue till the government makes sand available. “If the government allows extraction of sand, we are ready to transport the same,” he said.
He criticised the government for taking no steps to resolve the matter even though the construction activity in the city had almost come to a halt. Not only sand lorry owners, even lorry drivers, loaders and construction labourers will be severely hit by the government’s failure to take steps to make sand available, he said.
He also came down heavily on the government for its alleged failure to identify spots on the banks of the river for extraction of sand as the Supreme Court ban applies only to removal of sand from the river bed.
