Tamil Nadu State Sand Lorry Owners Federation also wanted the government to approve bringing sand from Andhra Pradesh to meet the demands of six to seven districts in north Tamil Nadu.
| Photo Credit: Moorthy_M
Tamil Nadu State Sand Lorry Owners Federation has sought the resumption of direct sales of river sand to avert a shortage.In a press briefing held in Chennai on Tuesday, members of the Federation said some of the unauthorised M-sand units across the State are being shut down. While it was a welcome move, it may also pave the way for an artificial shortage of M-sand and a hike in prices of construction materials. The price of M-sand may increase from ₹55 per cubic foot to ₹100 per c.ft.The State’s daily sand requirement is estimated to be nearly 25,000 loads. Of this, nearly 6,000-7,000 loads are transported to Chennai and its surrounding districts. The Federation’s president S. Yuvaraj said the State government must resume direct sales of river sand instead of involving third parties. Sand mining should be carried out manually to protect the environment and also create job opportunities. Major dams across the State may be desilted on the lines of Kerala to enhance storage capacity and generate revenue.The Federation also wanted the government to approve bringing sand from Andhra Pradesh to meet the demands of six to seven districts in north Tamil Nadu. It also called for approval to sell imported sand from Malaysia to avoid a shortage and curb any sharp increase in prices. Published - June 02, 2026 07:56 pm IST
