They have already started negotiations with Malaysian firms on importing sand from Malaysian rivers.
The Deccan Herald reported today that the Karnataka state government had shortlisted a Malaysian company to provide the sand.
Karnataka Law Minister T B Jayachandra, however, declined to name the company as the process was still under way.
He said the imported sand would be available in the state capital Bengaluru for Rs 175 (RM11.70) a 50kg bag.
“The (Malaysian) company has emerged as the most competitive bidder having quoted an all-inclusive price of Rs 3,450 (RM231.75) per tonne. This works out to about Rs 35,000 per truckload of sand, which is way cheaper than the current price in the state,” he was quoted as saying by the Deccan Herald.
He said the move would also help conserve the state’s natural resources.
Jayachandra told the media that the imported sand would be rationed to ensure only those who were in genuine need received the supply.
“Steps will also be taken to ensure that sand is not diverted to realty firms,” the Deccan Herald quoted him as saying.
In June, the Times of India reported that the state of Tamil Nadu was in talks with companies in Malaysia and Cambodia to import sand.
It said that the Builders Association of India (BAI) was holding talks with a private firm in Malaysia to import river sand.
It quoted BAI’s southern centre honorary secretary S Ramaprabhu as saying river sand from Malaysia would be able to help control sand prices which had touched record levels.
“The reality is that quality river sand is not available even though buyers are ready to pay Rs 120 per cubic feet. Against this backdrop, importing sand will help to make the availability of quality river sand for construction at affordable rates,” he was quoted as saying.
He said the Malaysian company had promised to export 2 lakh (200,000) tonnes of sand a month, adding that this could be increased.
“This can meet the demand of Chennai to a certain extent with an advantage of reducing the exploitation of sand mined from our rivers,” the Times of India quoted him as saying.