GUWAHATI, March 6 - Scarcity of sand and chips has become a major problem for those who are building their houses here. It is alleged that the situation is the result of a lack of clear-cut policy on the part of the State�s Forest Department.
Tikendrajit Saikia, president of the Association of Architects, Assam, told this newspaper here today that the Guwahatians are now facing the biggest ever problem of scarcity in the supply of sand and chips in building their houses. The builders are also facing the same problem in its acute form and this has brought the construction industry to a state of virtual closure, Saikia said.
The suppliers have been alleging that due to the non-availability of challan or sand and chips, they are facing problems in supplying sand and chips, which are the two main ingredients, next to cement and steel, in construction activities.
Saikia said this is the result of the lack of a clear-cut policy on the part of the Forest Department. Forest checkgates have been closed by the department on the pretext that checkgates are the breeding grounds of corruption.
However, it is observed that when the checkgates were operational, sand and chips were cheaper compared to their present prices. But after the closure of the checkgates, these items have become costlier. Moreover, the supply of both these materials was smoother when the checkgates were functioning, Saikia said.
Saikia made an appeal to all those concerned in this respect to go deep into the matter and take appropriate steps to make smooth the supply of sand and chips. �We also request the authorities concerned, to include sand and chips in the list of essential commodity, so that the flow of supply of both these two materials is not hampered in the near future,� he said.
