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Friday, March 29 2024
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Karnataka to import sand from Malaysia

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Bengaluru: The state government has finally taken a decision to import sand from foreign countries to check illegal sand mining and conserve water bodies in the state.

“Malaysia has come forward to supply a truck load of sand at Rs 35,000,’’ Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs T.B. Jayachandra told reporters here on Monday.

The minister said Malaysia has agreed to supply sand at Rs 3500 per tonne of sand and each truck load consists with 10 tonnes of sand. “It will mitigate the shortage of sand in the state,’’ the minister said.

According to the minister, the state government had floated tenders inviting bidders from four countries including Burma and Malaysia. “Among the four countries, Malaysia quoted lowest price to supply the sand. The measures will be taken to supply the sand to the district headquarters. The applicants have to submit building plan to avail the sand. The authorities will not allow public to buy sand as per their whims and fancies,’’ the minister said.

He said the sufficient quantity of sand would be available as per the demand since each ship can carry the load of 50 lakh tonnes of sand. “It will end the menace of illegal sand mining in the state,’’ he said.

The minister said the price of a truck load of sand hovers between Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh in the state due to lack of supply as per the demand. “The prices of sand will come down as soon as sand arrives from Malaysia,’’ he said.

Currently, sand is brought in illegally from Tamil Nadu and people pay Rs 1 lakh-1.25 lakh per truck. The filter sand is usually mixed to make money in the open market.

Replying a query on the promotion of SC/ST employees, the minister said the Cabinet sub-committee has discussed the issue. “The issue will be discussed again,’’ the minister said. The minister has also said that some of the liquor shop owners have approached Supreme Court against its order on the closure of liquor shops on national highways but the apex court has dismissed all those appeals.

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