Sand lorry owners’ federation raises concern over poor quality of M-sand in T.N.

Members of the Tamil Nadu State Sand Lorry Owners Federation have flagged concerns over poor quality of M-sand owing to the mushrooming of unauthorised M-sand manufacturing units across the State.

The Federation noted there are about 4,000 M-sand manufacturing units in the State. Of this, only 478 M-sand manufacturing units were approved for quality by the Public Works Department (PWD).

S. Yuvaraj, president of the Federation, said several constructions relied on M-sand, particularly in the absence of river sand quarries over the past few years. The State has a daily demand of nearly 25,000 loads of M-sand. In Chennai alone, the demand is about 8,000 loads of M-sand daily, and the shortage of 2,000 loads is met through adulterated sand. M-sand is priced at ₹55 to ₹60 per cubic foot.

While licences for operation of quarries and crushers units are provided by the Mining Department and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), most of them are functioning without quality checks. This has led to the use of substandard materials in residential constructions and government projects, he said.

In a complaint lodged at the Fort St. George police station, the Federation sought action against the authorities concerned in the PWD and Natural Resources department for failing to enforce M-sand rules and curb illegal M-sand manufacturing units. The Federation demanded that all units functioning without proper approval must be allowed operate only after a review by a committee formed by the State government.

Officials of the PWD said the product quality certification was voluntary. The department’s high-level committee has, so far, provided quality approval certificates to 500 units and it is valid for three years for those who own quarries, and for one year for crusher units. Quality checks are conducted for product approval and the renewal of certification. The Natural Resources department is in the process of framing the rules.