Sand, laterite stone shortage leaves construction industry reeling

MANGALURU: The construction industry in Dakshina Kannada district is at a standstill, with real estate developers and civil contractors facing an acute shortage of sand and laterite stones.

The scarcity of sand is primarily due to the ban on extraction during the rainy season to facilitate the breeding of fish in the water bodies. A lack of permits and strict law enforcement against illegal sand trade has also led to the shortage crisis. Meanwhile, laterite stone contractors are on strike against a steep hike in the fee for quarrying.Civil Contractors Association President Mahabala Kottary said that the construction industry is at a standstill due to the shortage of materials.

Further, he said, another major issue is the shortage of laterite stones. “People in coastal districts prefer laterite stones to construct houses. Those contractors, who have been quarrying laterite stones for several years, by obtaining permits from the gram panchayats. However, due to stringent rules, the laterite stone quarrying activities have been stopped in the district. In Kerala, the royalty for quarrying one ton of laterite stone is just Rs 36.

However, contractors here have to pay Rs 268,” Kottary said.“Associations of the civil contractors, engineers, laterite stone contractors, builders, and electrical contractors have been planning to meet ministers and officials to find solutions to the issue of sand and laterite stone shortage. We have already explained the crises to the district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, home minister G Parameshwara, and assembly speaker UT Khader.

We have explained how the crisis will affect the industry and thousands of families depending on it,” he added.CPI(M) District Secretary Muneer Katipalla said that the new city police commissioner and SP have completely curbed illegal sand and stone business, which has led quarry owners and sand traders to complain to influential politicians. “Yes, sand and stones are needed, but the new IPS officers should not be blamed for this. They have stopped illegal sand and stone quarrying and upheld the law. Our demand should be for the complete cessation of illegal sand and stone operations, and simultaneously, for the implementation of a straightforward and environmentally safe legal sand policy. We urge for the creation of rules to allow legal mining and sand extraction. Protests will be organised for this cause,” he added.MLC Ivan D’Souza said that he has already discussed the issue with the district minister. “The issue will be discussed at the KDP meeting to be chaired by the district minister on Monday. A decision will be taken to make sand and laterite stone available for construction by clearing all procedural bottlenecks,” he added.