Kerala to mine sand from dams

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's construction sector, which has ground to a slow pace owing to an acute shortage of sand, is expected to get some relief as the state government readies to mine sand from its dams.

The decision is a follow-up on a budget proposal made to that effect earlier this year.

State water resources minister N.K. Premachandran said the mining of sand from dams was scheduled to begin this month, with action to be initiated next week.

The state government is also considering importing river sand from other states in the country and from abroad in an attempt to address the shortage of sand.

The government has announced the Kerala Minerals Development Corporation will be the agency that will regulate the importation and distribution of sand.