Master plan for sand
Plans are under way to obtain Cabinet approval to prepare a Master Plan to offset sand shortages, Urban Development and Water Supply Minister Dinesh Gunawardana announced yesterday.
He pledged to take prompt action to obtain Cabinet approval to establish an Implementing Unit to undertake the preparations of a Master Plan to supply the sand requirements of the Western Province that is currently facing an acute sand shortage, which is crippling the construction industry.
As a preliminary measure to the proposed Master Plan, the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation together with the Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) has planned to sieve and wash 1.6 million cubic metres of sea sand for the Colombo Katunayake Expressway. The sand will be harvested from Kerawalapitiya, Muthurajawela.
"There will be no environmental damage, as the sand will be taken from the sea bed and processed without causing any harm to the eco system. This measure is essential to kick start the stagnating construction industry that has been bogged down due to the sand shortage. The Expressway has been temporarily put on hold as a result. Once this measure is implemented before December, sand will be made available at a very competitive price," he said.
The Cabinet has also approved appointing a Steering Committee to formulate a Master Plan and a National Sand Policy for future development activities, he added. (UJ)
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2004/09/15/news/12.asp)
He pledged to take prompt action to obtain Cabinet approval to establish an Implementing Unit to undertake the preparations of a Master Plan to supply the sand requirements of the Western Province that is currently facing an acute sand shortage, which is crippling the construction industry.
As a preliminary measure to the proposed Master Plan, the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation together with the Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) has planned to sieve and wash 1.6 million cubic metres of sea sand for the Colombo Katunayake Expressway. The sand will be harvested from Kerawalapitiya, Muthurajawela.
"There will be no environmental damage, as the sand will be taken from the sea bed and processed without causing any harm to the eco system. This measure is essential to kick start the stagnating construction industry that has been bogged down due to the sand shortage. The Expressway has been temporarily put on hold as a result. Once this measure is implemented before December, sand will be made available at a very competitive price," he said.
The Cabinet has also approved appointing a Steering Committee to formulate a Master Plan and a National Sand Policy for future development activities, he added. (UJ)
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2004/09/15/news/12.asp)
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