VASCO
Sand extractors in the State could face stiff challenge from overseas competitors, with high quality Malaysian sand entering the State for the first time.
Around 55,000 metric tonnes of sand loaded on the ship MV Cooper arrived in Goa on Friday afternoon, in a bid to address issues pertaining to extreme shortage of sand requirement for private builders, contractors and government projects in the State.
The ship arrived and is docked at the port after waiting for around 10 days due to documentation, approvals and clearances that were required before it could berth and offload the cargo.
The consignment has been ordered by Delta Infralogistics Worldwide Pvt Ltd (DIWPL) and builders in the State have hailed the first consignment of high quality Malaysian sand to Goa port.
“This is the first consignment of imported sand, which is a non-polluting cargo in Goa and it was ordered after a study and considering the huge demand in the local market,” DIWPL Goa branch manager Raghoba Kotkar told The Goan.
“We are expecting another 5-6 consignments which will bring in about 4-5 lakh metric tonnes of sand. This will be supplied to neighbouring states after the local demand is completed.”
Explaining the decision to import sand, Kotkar said: “We had studied the local market and then ordered the sand as there is a huge demand. We had to clear a lot of hurdles, as the Goa port was not authorised to handle this cargo, unlike 5 other major ports in India which are certified to handle this cargo.”
“The ship which had arrived the port on February 4 had to be kept outside. Besides, there is an agency called plant quarantine whose permission and approvals were required.”
“However with support from the ministry and MPT Chairman I Jeyakumar, the sampling was done and samples were sent to Mumbai. After plant quarantine approvals, the ship arrived in the port on Friday and this cargo will be cleared in four days.”
“This is high quality sand suitable for local builders and
government projects in Goa and neighbouring states.” said Kotkar
