Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Jul 3: While the ban on illegal mining and transportation for the natural sand continues, demand for sand being manufactured from stone crushers known as ‘M-Sand’ is increasing. Mangaluru is getting opportunities to send such sand to places like Maldives, Kerala and Bengaluru.

As river sand is available in abundance in the coast, there is no demand for manufactured sand here. However as river sand is not available or expensive in other parts, there is demand for manufactured sand there. The first workshop on the subject’ M-Sand’ was held in the office of Dakshina Kannada (DK) deputy commissioner on Saturday, July 2.

What is this M Sand?

Rock stones are made smaller gravels with the help of crushers. The dust that remains is normally used for other purposes. The dust is also used to convert as sand with the help of machines. The sand so available is as good as that available in the river. This is called M-Sand.

Sand can be manufactured if there are machines to reprocess sand where there are stone crushers. There is demand all over the country for such sand. The machines that process sand with the help of water cost Rs 35 lac and those that process sand with the aid of air cost nearly Rs 2 crore.

M-Sand manufacturing site

The rules for stone crushers need to be followed here to obtain licence. The department of mines and geology issues permission for the projects.

The government has come forward to support manufactured sand by providing subsidy and issuing license without delay.

Current trend

There are complaints in Bengaluru that some dealers are selling crusher dust as river sand spoiling the reputation of manufactured sand dealers. However engineers and scientists have assured that there is no risk with the quality of manufactured sand. Sand manufacturers Trident Infrastructure managing partner Manoj Shetty has said that there is no need for confusion in this respect.

75% of M sand is used for roads and bridges in Bengaluru while 90% M-Sand is used in building projects mixed with natural sand.

A B Ibrahim, deputy commissioner of DK district, has said that another meeting will be held after inviting Credai and builders to provide details of manufactured sand.

There are plans to transport and sell M-Sand in bags like in the case of cement, dealers said.

There are between 20 to 30 M-Sand dealers in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.