Scarcity of sand is severely affecting construction activity in Puducherry following the Tamil Nadu government curbing (interstate) sand movement to Puducherry, which is likely to be raised by Puducherry Chief minister N Rangasamy at the Southern Zonal Council Meeting scheduled on Friday in Bangalore to be presided by Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
All construction work in Puducherry was dependent on sand mined from Tamil Nadu as the meager sand mined from Puducherry was insufficient for meeting the requirements of construction activities.
The Madras high court order in June this year upholding the legality of the Tamil Nadu government order (new clause in Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1963) had placed severe restriction on illegal mining, transportation, storage and sale of sand in any place without valid licence which has led to the situation in Puducherry.
Earlier there was free movement of sand through Puducherry. Contractors involved in mining and transportation of sand from Tamil Nadu used to sell a portion in Puducherry, while transporting sand to various pockets of Tamil Nadu like Kottakuppam, Reddichavady and Thirukanur areas in Puducherry. Though it was illegal, the authorities ignored it, as they were aware of the lack of resources in Puducherry.
Traders from Puducherry, Cuddalore, Villupuram districts made the most out of this business and builders also gained as the sand mined from Puducherry was not only meager, but also lacked quality.
However, now with changed policy Tamil Nadu authorities empowered under the new order to confiscate any stock of sand on transit or at storage point, impound and cancel licence of vehicles used for transporting sand without due permit (no permit for interstate sales).
The proposed Peninsular India Region Industrial Development Corridor or PRIDE Corridor, passing through Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra is a key transport corridor for the peninsular region of India. However, the Union territory of Puducherry does not figure in it. The Union territory would like to be linked through the industrial corridor for paving the way for industrial development, particularly the Karaikal region of the UT.
This would also be high on Puducherry’s agenda considering the fact that industrial development has been very low in the past few years and the government needs to promote it.
Coastal erosion has been threatening Puducherry. The government has moved a proposal to government of India seeking funds for restoration of the sandy beach through a French technology.
The proposal estimated around Rs 13 crore has been moved to the Ministry of Environment and Forests around five months ago, but there has been no response.
With Tourism projected as the driver of growth for UT, chief minister is likely to take up the issue of developing tourism linkage through luxury trains and their inclusion tourism packages, in the meeting.