Builders upset over slump in business

Builders Association of India (BAI), Trichy chapter expressed its displeasure at the slump in their business due to the acute scarcity of river sand following the closure of the sand quarries at several places across the state.

Closure of sand quarries across river Cauvery and Kollidam in August this year took its toll on the construction industry bringing the building construction to a near-halt in the past four months in the state including Trichy.

The builders in Trichy saw an unprecedented decline in the number of construction projects due to the poor availability of sand.

Upset by the unprecedented sluggishness, BAI Trichy chapter chairman R Murugesan pointed out that there was a sharp decline in construction of buildings by 90 %. For instance, the construction of 10 to 15 buildings was taking place in Trichy whereas the number was 100 to 150 before the closure of the quarries.

“Unavailability of sand causes severe damage to the business. We are looking at alternatives to revive the business here,” Murugesan told ToI on the expo- Build Rock – 2018 organised in Trichy on Monday.

As far as Trichy district was concerned, the areas in Thiruverumbur and Vayaloor road saw a boom in the business, but the current situation stalled the business.

The very limited supply of sand from only nine quarries functioning in Cuddalore, Vellore and Nagappattinam in the state upped the sand price to Rs25,000 from the normal price of Rs4000 to Rs5000 per two units earlier thus increasing the construction cost from Rs1900 to Rs2100 per square feet.

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