Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 9: In tune with the decision taken by the state government to import sand from Malaysia to tide over scarcity of sand in the state, over 52,000 tonnes of sand has reached the local port from Malaysia. The ship, 'Shore Infinite' which left Pikon port in Malaysia ten days back, reached the port here, and sand unloading began on Friday morning.

One the unloading is done, the sand will be transported to different districts by huge trucks. Officials of Delta Infra, which has been entrusted with the work of handling this sand, said that the quantity of sand brought now amounts to 2,482 truckloads. This is the first installment of five lac tonnes of sand proposed to be imported from Malaysia to handle shortage of sand and skyrocketing prices.

It is said that Akar Enterprises, a Chennai-based company, which imported this sand, chose to get the sand unloaded in the port here as compared to Chennai which is nearer to Malaysia, as the port fee and handling charges there are exorbitant in comparison.