Construction activities in Chennai and its suburbs have hit a speed-breaker due to the escalating cost of river sand.
According to industry sources, the cost of sand loads has reached an all-time high of around Rs 30,000 and even obtaining sand at such prices is difficult.
The onset of monsoon and the recent murders related to real estate activities had affected the movement of sand lorries in Chennai.
Due to the rains most of the quarries in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur district have been closed as operating lorries along the riverbeds has become difficult, sources said.
“The demand for construction materials has been on the rise and the demand for river sand has been steady for the past two years.
Eight years back, four units of sand cost around Rs 3,000. Two months back, the market rate was close to Rs 18,000 and now, with the onset of the monsoon, the cost has shot up to over Rs 25,000,” said Mr S.S. Mani, former president, Tambaram vattara manal lorry urimaiyalar sangam.
Around 5,000 loads of sand was the daily requirement and due to the shortage, loads from Cuddalore and Salem are being brought in, he added.
Demand for metal sand, manufactured by crushing stones, had also surged to around Rs 14,000 per unit, said M. Raj Gounder, who is into crushing business.
“The recent murders of local body chiefs involved in real estate business had also reduced the movement of sand lorries.
Locals near the basins of Meghavathi, Palar and Kosasthalayar rivers are unhappy over business rivalries and refrain from sand quarry activities,” opined Mr Damodaran Vijayakumar, a real estate agent of Chromepet.