In an attempt to allay fears about sand scarcity, Minister for Public Works Department Dr H C Mahadevappa promised that the issue will be sorted out soon.
Speaking to the media at Suttur Sri Kshetra in Nanjangud taluk, Mahadevappa said that the government had identified 600 sand points and the tender process has been launched for the auction of 300 points.
Mahadevappa attributed the current scenario for the inability to mine sand, following the order of Green Bench of the Supreme Court, banning mining of sand at water bodies. Mahadevappa said that manufactured sand (M-sand, generated from quarry dust), was the only alternative for natural sand in the coming days.
To encourage production of M-sand in future, the government has identified 65 points. At present, 30 lakh million tonnes of M-sand is being produced and it may increase further by another three lakh million tonne in future.
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