TIRUCHY, CHENNAI: The stretch of bypass road from Kallanai on NH 45 was clogged with trucks heading to the quarry at Melkondayanpettai as the State government started selling sand on Thursday.
Trucks lined up on the Chennai bypass since early in the morning and drivers were told to hand over demand draft to fill sand. Melkondayanpettai is one of the sites where sand sale began.
The others are in Viragalur (Lalgudi), Chinthalavadi and Mayanaur (Karur) and Silaipillayarpatti. Of the 42 quarries owned by PWD across the State, seven, including one each in Ariyalur and Karur, are in Tiruchy region.
Meanwhile, the State government has announced that seven more quarries will be set up across Tamil Nadu to cater to the demand. According to an official press release, the government has obtained approval from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority for setting up these quarries.
“In addition to the sand quarries where mechanised quarrying and manual quarrying are being done, seven more quarries will be set up. Wherever necessary, government sand sale depots will be set up near rivers to sell sand to the people,” an official release said.
It further said following the announcement on sale of sand by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on May 5 at Madurai, steps are being taken to set up government sand sales depots in all sand quarries. This would help remove the hurdles faced by public in getting sand for construction and also supply at a cheaper rate.
So far, the cost of sand was being paid only through demand drafts from banks. Soon, it can be paid using credit or debit card. Efforts were being made to encourage manufacture and use of ‘M-sand’ (manufactured sand). Besides, steps are on to prevent transportation of sand to other States, the release added.