Manufactured sand cheaper, is viable alternative: Experts

Nagpur: Emphasis was laid on promoting

manufactured sand

(M-sand) as it is man-made, affordable, easily available and environment-friendly, at a seminar organized by Builders Association of India (BIA) at Press Club on Monday.

M-sand is made by cutting rocks by using machines and crushers. M-sand has been gaining popularity in the southern states as it is affordable and environment-friendly substitute.

The seminar was addressed by chairman of Butibori BIA Rajkumaran Nair, former state chief Raju Athawale, president of the Nagpur chapter of Credai Anil Nair, mining consultant HR Kalihari, former head of the civil engineering department of VNIT AD Pofale, assistant professor Swapnil Vanjari and civil engineers Milind Digrekar and Rakesh S.

The speakers highlighted the benefits of M-sand over river sand as it is environment-friendly. Sand extracted from river beds has been under fire since long due to hazardous effects on environment and rising costs as it is in much demand with massive urbanization, infrastructure development projects and commercial complexes that are coming up across the country, they said.

With the government acting swiftly against the mafia, the availability of sand has come down. M-sand is a good alternative to tide over the problem, they said.

Kalihari said, “We have a duty towards the next generation to present to them our planet in the same condition in which we got it. Use of natural resources should therefore be regulated. M-sand can fill that gap.”

Profale spoke on the technical aspects of the process and highlighted the do’s and don’ts of M-sand. Visiting the plant beforehand, getting chemical and physical tests done and consulting experts before adding additives are important, he said and gave tips on how the workability of M-sand could be increased.

Many technical aspects of M-sand, IAS codes, policies, royalties received, gradations and crushing methods were also discussed during the seminar.