Another Indian state receives sand from Malaysia

The river sand imported by Karnataka will be sold locally for the construction industry.

PETALING JAYA: Following the first-ever shipment of Malaysian sand to Tamil Nadu in October, another Indian state, Karnataka, has received a separate consignment.

The river sand is much needed for its construction industry.

The Times of India reported today that Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL), which purchased the 54,000 tonnes of sand from Malaysia, would sell it locally in 50kg sacks from January.

It said the move would also help protect local riverbeds from exploitation and curb illegal mining.

The sand arrived at Krishnapatnam Port and is awaiting government clearance, it added.

At 3,900 rupees (RM250) per tonne, the price is less than sand extracted in Karnataka itself which is sold at 6,700 rupees (RM430) per tonne, the report said.

MSIL managing director GC Prakash said a 50kg sack would be sold at 195 rupees (RM12.50), inclusive of 5% GST and government royalty of 60 rupees (RM4) per tonne.

The newspaper also cited Rajendra Kumar Kataria, secretary of the state Department of Commerce and Industries (mines and micro, small and medium enterprises), as saying that Karnataka’s own sand resources were in a worrying condition.

“The situation is alarming. We are left with only 26 million tonnes of river sand.

“While we are exploring other options to meet the demand for sand from the construction industry, the first option is to import river sand.”

On Nov 2, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar confirmed that Putrajaya had given approval for two companies to export sand to India.

He said the companies had sent 50,000 tonnes to Tamil Nadu and negotiations for Karnataka were ongoing.

He said the exports were allowed as the sand was obtained from dredging the Sungai Pahang and Sungai Kelantan estuaries to keep flooding at bay.

According to the daily, a private firm based in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu, had imported the 55,000 tonnes of sand in October.

The cost of sending the Malaysian sand to Tamil Nadu was said to be 60 rupees (RM4) per cubic foot, 50% cheaper than the river sand from the state which cost between 110 and 120 rupees.

FMT had on Aug 9 reported Anthony Tan Kee Huat, executive director of the Centre for Environment, Technology and Development Malaysia (Cetdem), as expressing concern about the negative impact sand exports to India would have on Malaysia’s environment and natural resources.

Pointing out that the Indian states were reported to have wanted to conserve their natural resources, he said: “What about conserving our own natural resources?” -FMT