Construction : Manufactured Sand - A Worthy Substitute..

by Anurag Jhanwar, CRISIL Real Estate Star Ratings

Most people take sand for granted - after all, there is no shortage of the stuff, right Unfortunately, that assumption is not  true anymore. The availability of natural sand, a critical component in modern-day construction, for building purposes, is slowly &  steadily reducing due to ecological restrictions by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on mining of sand from river beds.

 

Mr.Anurag Jhanwar,
CRISIL Real Estate Star Ratings

This is alarming, given that sand alone, makes up about 26% of the total volume of the fine aggregates, which in turn, comprise 60% to 75% of the concrete mix. Let's now take a look at the demand and supply issues plaguing the availability of sand.

SAND SCARCITY HITTING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY...

Even though sand is not as costly as other building materials,i t is indispensable to construction. In recent times, supply constraints in the construction sector, have sent sand prices spiralling to 3 to 5 times above their normal range.

A typical truckload of sand, which costs about Rs. 5000 earlier, now costs between Rs.15,000 and Rs. 25,000 or / even higher, depending on the extent of demand.

Considering the critical role it plays in the building process, the cost implications of sand scarcity are starkly clear.

 

Any shortage in sand availability affects the projects' pricing & quality to a great extent. On an average,it can impact overall construction costs by 5% to 7% per cent. The non-availability of sand has adversely affected many projects across India and caused huge delays in projects, affecting end-users.

The prime cause of the shortage of sand is the stoppage of mining activities. It has had a major impact on construction activity, particularly in cities. Metro cities require 20,000-30,000 loads of sand each day for construction activities.

However, the supply of sand is hardly 5% to 10% of this total requirement.

The scarcity of sand has necessitated the exploration of alternatives like crushed sand,besides envisaging an increased role for technology in construction.

MANUFACTURED SAND : A WORTHY SUBSTITUTE..

The acute shortage & high price of river sand, has led to the adulteration of sand with salty sea sand, which has raised serious concerns among builders / promoters.

Seeking to strike a balance between the growing needs of the construction industry & environmental concerns regarding preservation of river beds, amid excessive sand mining, the government may opt for changing the specifications of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to ensure sand substitutes can be used by builders across the country.

BIS currently stipulates that concrete can only be made with naturally - accessed materials, making it complex for the real estate sector to rely on sand alternatives like Manufactured Sand (M - Sand), copper slag, powdered glass and recycled construction waste, among others, which are increasingly being used in many foreign countries due to fast-depleting natural sand resources &  environmental concerns.

Even as M-Sand is considered a substitute, it is important to ensure its quality.

As per norms, M - Sand should conform to BIS 383 Table 15 and BIS 10232 standards. In addition,sieved sand must conform to Zone II classification for concrete. Some amendments to existing laws are needed to link building approvals to availability of materials, or  to seek the developers' plans for sourcing the required materials.

THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE: MODERN TECHNOLOGY..

Going forward, technology that minimises the quantity of sand in construction will be important. Engineered blocks are one example. Pre-cast construction would give a finish surface in construction so that sand usage will be reduced significantly, since plastering will not be required. For other work, crushed sand can be used.

Even as the government cracks down on illegal sand mining, it also needs to recognise the problem of sand scarcity, and how it is affecting the middle - class segment. The answer may lie in developing a policy on sand and encouraging the industry to set up sand - crushing units across all districts and states.

The authorities should also encourage alternatives to sand which can be used to meet the ever-increasing requirements of the construction industry. If this is not done immediately, the entire construction industry, and especially the common man, will have to pay the price.

About the author..

The writer Anurag Jhanwar is director at CRISIL Real Estate Star Ratings

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