Government yet to identify potential bidder for sand import, builders worried

CMDA sources said that many bids were rejected, as they did not meet the prescribed standards. Sources at CMDA said that the government had decided to import 30 lakh tonnes of sand for a period of two years and PWD had recently invited bidders. 

The announcement came as a big relief for builders, who were suffering due to the skyrocketing sand prices, besides leaving thousands of construction workers jobless. 

Meanwhile, the builders have urged the government to accelerate the process for an early solution. “Though it is a welcome move to import sand, the officials concerned should start the process quickly. Further, the government must expedite the process to open new quarries in the state at the earnest,” said N Govindasamy, president of Tamil Nadu Construction Engineers and Contractors Association. 

A CMDA official, on condition of anonymity, said that importing river sand from abroad was a complicated process. “We have identified a few bidders and will hold a meeting soon to finalise the process,” the official said and added that all the procedural aspects were likely to be completed by April end. 

Similarly, a PWD official (Sand Mining Wing), said that they would open sand quarries in a few days. “Since we need to provide tender for qualified bidder, it took some time. However, all the processes pertaining to the new quarries are over,” the official said.