Tamil Nadu to Open Eight New Sand Quarries from November 1 to Ease Supply Shortage

In a major step to ease the shortage of construction material, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to open eight new sand quarries from November 1 across five districts — Pudukkottai, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Namakkal, and Ranipet. Officials said the move follows the resolution of issues related to contractor selection and environmental clearances that had earlier delayed the process.

Currently, 12 river sand quarries are operational across Tamil Nadu. However, allegations of irregularities and illegal money transactions by some contractors led to investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), resulting in temporary closures. With growing pressure from the construction sector and sand lorry associations, the government has now taken steps to restore supply in a regulated manner.

The Water Resources Department had earlier planned to reopen over 30 quarry sites but faced administrative hurdles in selecting new contractors. With environmental permissions now in place for eight of these sites, the state has prioritized reopening them to ensure steady sand availability.

According to officials, three quarries will reopen in Pudukkottai district, two in Cuddalore, and one each in Thanjavur, Namakkal, and Ranipet. The quarries will begin sand sales from November 1. The department has also set up digital monitoring systems to ensure transparency in sand extraction and transportation.

Yuvraj, president of the M-Sand and Sand Lorry Owners’ Federation, said the reopening follows the conclusion of a long-pending court case in the Madras High Court. “After the verdict, we requested the government to expedite quarry openings. This move will stabilize sand prices and support ongoing construction works across Tamil Nadu,” he said.

The government’s decision is expected to benefit contractors, builders, and individual home developers, reducing delays in major infrastructure and housing projects that have been affected by sand scarcity.