MoEF lifts ban on sand mining builders relieved

The Builders Association of India (BAI) has welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) to lift the ban on sand mining in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra.

The Builders Association of India (BAI) has welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) to lift the ban on sand mining in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra.

HT Image

"The announcement made by Jairam Ramesh, union minister for environment and forests, gives the construction industry significant relief, which is bound to help in realising some of the major infrastructure and housing projects planned by the government itself," BAI president, Cherian Varkey said in a statement.

“We hope that the minister will consider relaxing the ban on sand mining in Thane and Raigad district as well, for at least two years, as transporting sand from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg to Mumbai, a distance of more than 400 km, will add to the cost of construction, which is already very high,” he said.

Welcoming the sops given for the development of environment-friendly buildings, Anand Gupta, treasurer, BAI, said "If the government initiates steps to set up water treatment, sewage water treatment and waste water treatment plants in government buildings, it would serve as an example to other buildings to implement such projects."