Chennai, July 28: The Tamil Nadu government has announced a temporary three-month ban on the transportation of construction materials such as sand, cut stone, M-sand, metal jelly, and others to neighboring states. This decision comes in response to rising domestic demand, shortages, increasing prices, and concerns related to illegal mining and road safety.
The order was issued by Prabhu Shankar, the Director of the Department of Geology and Mining. He stated that this measure aims to ensure a steady supply of essential construction materials for ongoing infrastructure and housing projects across Tamil Nadu.
The ban will apply to all neighboring states except the Union Territory of Puducherry. According to the government, the rapid implementation of public infrastructure and housing projects has led to a significant increase in demand for construction materials within the state. Additionally, large quantities of materials such as sand, stone, M-sand, gravel, and millstones have been transported to neighboring states, resulting in shortages in Tamil Nadu.
Officials noted that this imbalance has caused artificial shortages, price hikes, and disruptions in both public and private construction activities. The order also highlights the impact of heavy transportation on public infrastructure. Continuous movement of heavy trucks and multi-axle vehicles carrying construction materials has severely damaged local roads and contributed to an increase in road accidents and fatalities.
The government further clarified that there is no significant shortage of construction materials in neighboring states like Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. However, the large-scale transportation of materials from Tamil Nadu has exacerbated the gap between demand and supply within the state.
Authorities warned that the rising demand has encouraged illegal mining and the extraction of minerals beyond permitted limits, posing a serious threat to the environment and ecological balance.
This temporary ban aims to prevent further depletion of natural resources while ensuring an adequate supply of materials for ongoing development projects within Tamil Nadu. The order mandates all district collectors, police superintendents, and officials from bordering districts to strictly enforce the ban. Relevant departments have been instructed to monitor interstate checkpoints closely and ensure that no unauthorized shipments leave the state.
The government has also warned that strict action will be taken against anyone violating the ban under the provisions of existing mining and transportation regulations.
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