New policy to regulate M-sand production

Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin announced a new policy to regulate the production of M-sand, which has emerged as a viable and more robust alternative to the river sand in the construction industry, by encouraging the rough stone quarries to produce M-sand by invoking laws relating to the environment and land use.

Since excessive mining of river sand and the depletion of natural resources had led to a shortage in the river sand, the traditional construction material, the policy would enable the production of M-stand or crushed sand, which would also lead to zero-waste in the stone quarries.

Though the M-sand is made out of the waste material in the stone quarries and small quantities of granite, the necessary raw materials should be provided for their manufacture while no separate leases for quarries would be made for the purpose, the policy made it clear.

The M-sand, which has been found to be a better and cheaper alternative to river sand in the construction industry and has been approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), would help construct stronger structures if used properly, the policy said.