The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India has said the ban on sand mining by the National Green Tribunal was arbitrary and against growth.

Lalit Kumar Jain, Chairman, Credai, said the developer community was considering appropriate legal options to challenge the order.

“This nationwide stay on sand mining from river beds by the tribunal will only add to the ever-increasing burden on the real estate industry. It is shocking that the tribunal thinks sand mining causes floods in rivers. Silting, on the contrary, allows free flow of rivers and prevents floods,” he said.

Sand mafia

The ban will also increase result in sand smuggling and add to the growth of sand mafia, instead of curbing it. The plaster quality (of walls), particularly in urban areas and coastal cities such as Mumbai, is worsening by the day because of non-availability of quality river sand. It is common knowledge that the use of sand mined with mud and pollutants from the creek is adversely affecting the quality of construction, he said.

Jain said it was also the responsibility of district collectors to issue permission for sand mining to match the requirement of the construction industry, for which they issue certificates. The ban will lead to delays in project completion, thereby increasing the cost. Besides the realty sector, sand is an important ingredient in infrastructure projects like mass rapid transit systems and metro projects. It is also a primary constituent in core sector projects such as power plants.

shanker.s@thehindu.co.in

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