IANS

Mumbai, Apr 12: Uncertainty has gripped the construction of thousands of residential flats, commercial premises and infrastructure projects here following a week-long strike by sand suppliers.

An official of the Builders Association of India (BAI) said that a majority of them depend on the Mumbai Reti Vahatum Seva Sangh (MRVSS) for sand needed for building projects.

"However, because of the strike, our sand supply has completely stopped even the stocks have been exhausted and our projects are grinding to a halt," BAI treasurer Anand Gupta told IANS Monday.

The sand suppliers are demanding an end to the royalties charged by the government.

In view of the strike, some builders said they may not be able to give timely possession of the flats and business premises that were due to be completed by May-June.

Gupta said that though sand comprises only two percent of the input in a building project, it is a critical component.

"Without sand, nothing will work. A majority of the private and public projects have come to a standstill, others are experiencing cost overruns and major delays," lamented Gupta.

Similarly, several major and minor infrastructure projects, including the Mumbai metro rail project, are expected to suffer delays.

The MRVSS has alleged "harassment" by local authorities, imposition of arbitrary charges in the name of royalty and impounding of trucks with sand. This, it said, compelled the suppliers to go on strike from April 6.

"On an average, we supply huge quantities of sand through over 5,000 trucks daily. Now that has come to a complete standstill," MRVSS President Sharad Nayak told IANS.

While the local administration levies Rs.400 per truck as royalty, Nayak claimed that in reality the truckers have to shell out Rs.1,200 per truck, failing which the vehicles are detained.

More than 5,000 trucks, a majority of which are owned by MRVSS members, and others supply thousands of tonnes of sand brought from Thane, Raigad and other sources to construction sites in Mumbai.