Boom time for sand miners in State

Non-availability makes Kerala knock on Karnatakas door

According to sources with the Revenue and Industries department in Kerala, plans are afoot to approach Karnataka to meet the growing demand for sand in the Coastal State.

Susheela, Additional Secretary, Revenue Department, said the demand for sand in Kerala is more than 1,000 truck loads on a daily basis. “If we take that much of sand it will throw up an environment disaster in the State.  So the best possible way is to approach the neighbouring states,” he added.

“If we get the permission for the same from Karnataka, it will give a sigh of relief for the ever burgeoning demand and soaring prices for sand in Kerala,” she said.

A truck load of sand which fetched only Rs 4,000 till 2007 has seen a four-fold increase. Even though recession has hit construction activities throughout India, Kerala appears to be an exception since a large chunk of remittances by Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) is spent for construction activities. Shanmugappa, president of Federation of Karnataka State lorry Owners and Agents Association, said this will provide a real business opportunity for the recession-hit sand mining industry in the State. “Since transportation charge will catapult the price range when it reaches the end customer, the State government will have to sort out the tax issues to reduce the price. Here government will also have to control 400-odd Kerala trucks, which are already engaged in illegal sand transportation from the state,” he adds.

When contacted S S Pattanashetty, Additional Secretary, Department of Mines, said Karnataka is also facing huge demand for sand across the State.

“Local protests against sand mining dues to environmental issues and badly maintained roads because of ore transportation will put spanner in Kerala’s effort. So I think there will be a remote chance for positive response from the State government,” he adds.

Even though rampant illegal sand mining is going on at all nook and corner of Kerala, stringent punitive measures taken by the State Government had dented their activities. Kerala government also decided to organise sand audit to take head on its demand.
Since the Mangalore sand is so popular in northern Kerala districts with its high quality, sand from Karnataka can conquer the market easily. But the moot question is can they compete with already available packaged sand and other alternative materials in the State?