Builders association welcomes decision to lift ban on sand mining in Maharashtra

Builders Association of India (BAI) has welcomed the decision of ministry of environment and forests to lift the ban on sand mining in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra.

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

"We hope that the minister would consider relaxing such a ban in Thane and Raigad district at least for a period of two years since transporting sand from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg to Mumbai covering a distance of over 400km, would add to the cost of construction, which is already very high," Varkey said.

Welcoming the sops given for development of buildings with green norms, 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 including Mantralaya and municipal headquarters, it would stand as an example for other buildings to implement such projects."

"While BAI appreciates the zeal of the environment ministry in dealing with constructions that have come up without environmental clearances; we would request the government to initiate steps to regularise such buildings, especially in view of the huge problem of housing shortages, Broad Guidelines may be fix up by the environment ministry, and empower local self-government bodies to issue clearances once the main approval is granted by the environment ministry," Gupta said.

BAI is also happy that the government is initiating the coastal road plan for Mumbai as this would help the common man in communicating quicker to his home or work place, and will go a long way in ensuring the city's development in all spheres, the statement said.