Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday announced various measures for ensuring adequate and smooth supply of sand for construction works.
She made the announcement after chairing a meeting of senior ministers and top officials at the Secretariat. The meeting discussed the recent ruling of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that all quarries on the Cauvery-Coleroon riverbeds, which are more than five years old, must be closed down in three months.
In a statement here, the CM said all departments concerned as well as the district collectors should ensure sand mining was done without affecting the environment. To avoid shortage of sand, new quarries should be identified immediately and steps taken for getting approval of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority. She said the district collectors should take steps to stop illegal mining in unapproved zones.
Further, to promote the method of manufacturing sand by crushing stones, licences can be issued to private players engaged in that industry.
Besides, permission would be given to crushing units for manufacturing artificial sand. “If required, loans will be arranged through Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation, for purchase of necessary equipment for this purpose,” she said, adding that these steps would ensure uninterrupted supply of sand to the people at low rates.