Sand scarcity and high prices are the twin problems plaguing the construction industry for some time in Visakhapatnam district and city and only this week some steps have been initiated to address the problem. They have yet to yield concrete results. 

Though the problem is state-wide and the Chief Minister himself referred to the issue at the recent collectors' conference in Vijayawada, it is more acute in Visakhapatnam district as there are no sand ramps (or reaches) in the district suitable for construction industry. Visakhapatnam city and district have to depend on the neighbouring districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari for sand supply.   

Srikakulam district has a surplus of 9 lakh cum sand in its reaches, Vizianagaram 2 lakh cum and East Godavari 2 lakh cum sand and the collectors have promised to allow sand to be taken from there. However, all requisitions have to come from Visakhapatnam Collector. The Government is looking at changing the regulations to allow 24x7 mining of sand.

B. Srinivas, the secretary of the Confederation of the Real Estate Developers' Association of India (CREDAI), has said the price of a truckload of sand (six units) is now Rs 50,000 as against the Government rate of Rs 23,000. "Sand prices have soared so high that construction has virtually become impossible. Immediate steps have to be taken to address the issue," he added.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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