State to promote manufactured sand to meet City's demand

The construction activity in Bengaluru has been hit due to shortage of sand. But the City might get a reprieve from acute shortage of river sand in a year or two.  If things go according to the plan, the City will be supplied with large quantities of M Sand (Manufactured Sand). 

 The Department of Mines and Geology has identified 52 granite blocks in Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Ramanagar, Davangere, Mysuru, where granite can be quarried and crushed to produce M Sand, specifically to meet Bengaluru’s demand.Of the 52 blocks identified, 28 blocks have already been tendered through e-procurement and auctioned. The bidding for the same will open on Monday.

In Kolar, 10 blocks were identified, and all ten have been auctioned. Likewise, in Chikkaballapur seven of the eight blocks identified have been auctioned. Similarly in Tumakuru, 20 blocks were identified while eight of them have been auctioned. In Ramanagar, 10 identified and eight auctioned. In Davangere, two identified and one auctioned while in Mysuru two blocks were identified and none auctioned. The department is giving out these blocks for a 20-year lease period.

If these blocks get into production mode, then Bengaluru will get around 4 to 5 million metric tonnes of M Sand by next year. However, this will suffice only seven to eight months of the City’s demand. 

Tushar Girinath, Secretary, Commerce and Industries (Mines), said that the entire State’s demand for sand is around 28 million metric tonnes, while there were only about 7 to 8 million metric tonnes of river sand available. Since, the situation is grave in other states too, the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Mines and Minerals had given the department a go ahead to promote and popularise M Sand in a big way.

The department started identifying granite blocks, after the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) recommended that M Sand was more reliable than river sand, he added.

Girinath also said that the department was exploring other options like green slag (waste produced in steel manufacturing plants), and recycling household debris, to meet the growing demand for sand.

Officials said that those who are setting up the plants, will have to shell out anywhere between Rs 2 to Rs 10 crore. Applicants will get a 5 per cent interest subsidy for the loan amount procured. The leaseholder, however, has to get the environmental clearance from State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (under MoEF), clearances from district administration, KSPCB, Revenue, and Mines and Geology departments. Production can begin only after KSPCB gives the NoC and declares the block as a safe zone. 

Sand availability

In Karnataka, sand is available in 23 districts. However, Bengaluru Urban and Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Hubli-Dharwad, Ramanagar, Tumakuru, and Bidar have completely exhausted their sand deposits.