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1. 12/25/2018 New M-Sand policy to be framed to regulate trade - The Hindu
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/state-to-come-out-with-m-sand-policy-soon-to-regulate-trade/article25822495.ece 1/2
TAMIL NADU
NewM-Sandpolicytobeframedtoregulatetrade
CHENNAI, DECEMBER 25, 2018 00:41 IST
UPDATED: DECEMBER 25, 2018 08:21 IST
K. LakshmiK. Lakshmi
Manufacturers found in violation are liable for nes and at least a 2-year prison
sentence
After finding that nearly 30% of the M-sand available in the State to be of poor quality, the
Public Works Department (PWD) is formulating an M-sand policy specifying procedures for
manufacturing and penalty for adulteration.
M-sand is growing to be an alternative construction material in the State as the acute
shortage for river sand persists. Though there has been a proliferation of manufacturing
units, there is no check on adulterated M-sand due to lack of rules to regularise the trade
dominated by private players.
On an average, nearly 13,000 loads of M-sand is being supplied across the State. As several
manufacturers operate without approvals, the policy has been mooted to control poor
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2. 12/25/2018 New M-Sand policy to be framed to regulate trade - The Hindu
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/state-to-come-out-with-m-sand-policy-soon-to-regulate-trade/article25822495.ece 2/2
quality M-sand in the market. Sources said the policy would address various specifications
for manufacturing M-sand, procedures to set up units, delegation of powers for monitoring
and inspection and measures to check adulterated sand.
District level committees, comprising representatives from Revenue Department, PWD,
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and the Geology and Mining Department,
would be formed to monitor the trade, register complaints and initiate action against
offenders.
Two years jail
Manufacturers found to be producing M-sand of poor quality may be levied with penalties
and may have to serve a sentence of up to two years apart from cancellation of approval
certificates, officials said. The PWD assessment committee has certified only 76 M-sand
manufacturers for quality product so far. While 30 manufacturing units have applied for
approval, about 120 units listed by TNPCB are yet to be certified for their quality.
Moreover, nearly 100 manufacturing units were found to be producing M-sand without
proper approval from government agencies, including the TNPCB. But, there is no clarity
on which department must initiate action. The M-sand policy would address such issues
and come up with stringent rules to ensure availability of quality product in the market,
sources said.
The draft M-sand policy has been approved by the high-level assessment committee that
has representatives from Anna University, IIT Madras, Bureau of Indian Standards and
Military Engineer Services. Once the State gives a nod, it is expected to be implemented in a
few months. Such a policy is already in place in other States such as Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh, officials added.
Printable version | Dec 25, 2018 3:23:35 PM |
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/state-to-come-out-with-m-sand-
policy-soon-to-regulate-trade/article25822495.ece
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