Sand scarcity severely affects manufacturing units in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Scarcity of sand has hit all sectors in the district. The failure on the part of the government to ensure supply of sand has affected the construction activity. Now, the scarcity of sand has its impact on units manufacturing electric poles, fencing poles, cement bricks, cement design frames and rings.

There are several units in Srikakulam city, Chilakapalem, Ponduru, Rajam, Palakonda, Narasannapeta, Tekkali, Palasa, Nandigam, Sompeta, Amudalavalasa, Kotturu, Regidi, Rajam and other areas cement bricks, fencing poles, cement rings and design units are situated.

Electric poles manufacturing units are located mainly between Chilakapalem and Ponduru either side of the State highway, leading to Rayagadha of Odisha from Chilakapalem. All these units require more than 1,500 cubic meters sand every month. The cost of the sand has registered increase inthe open market.

Each tractor load of sand cost is Rs 4,000 in Srikakulam and its surrounding areas. At Palasa, Tekkali, Sompeta and Itchapuram each tractor load of sand cost are Rs 6,000.

"We did not expect this kind of problem for sand in our district as sand is available in the rivers here but unable to get it officially in the proper way and unable to bear its cost in open market" S Ramu, owner of poles making unit at Ponduru said.

It hit the stone crusher units too."We are unable to pay even daily wages to workers as we are not making cement designs, bricks, rings etc for the last two months as sand is not available" said B Appala Naidu at Kottaroad.