Zakir Hussain
Dimapur | January 29
With Dimapur emerging into a major commercial hub in Nagaland, people from other districts can easily locate the necessary things they want for any purpose. Dimapur including other districts of the State is witnessing numerous constructions works. And to meet the demand of construction sector, the demand of sand its extraction from riverbeds is on the rise.
In the construction area, sand has always been a complicated thing. Most important but in short supply, sand is full with controversy, as its random extraction has turned out to be a major concern affecting the eco-system of various rivers in the State and the neighbouring State as well. With the present pace of construction in the State, the demand is on an uphill climb.
As sand is the main component in concrete, helping to attach large portions of firmed metal with cement, its quality is of chief importance in construction. Sand should be clean and without salt content. According to Abdul Rahman, sand stockiest at Naharbari village, the demand of sand has increased last few years as the construction sector in the State is in the rise.
While disclosing about the kinds of sands available in Dimapur, Rahman informed that local sand (Dhansiri river) and Deopani sand (Assam) are available in the State and pointed out that Deopani sand is on high demand.
To meet the construction needs of other districts, he said that these sands are being transported to other districts of the State and Manipur as well. Despite high price of Deopani sand most people prefer this sand, as the sand is good for construction purpose because of its high quality, he informed and maintained that rate of Deopani sand is around Rs. 22 Cft (Cubic Feet) while the rate of local sand (Dhansiri sand) is around Rs. 5 Cft (Cubic Feet).
He also said that the rate of Deopani sand is high because it comes from Assam and has to pass through numerous check gates within and outside the State. “Incase of flood and rainy season the rate of both the sands goes up,” Rahman added.
However, talking to another stockiest at Purana Bazar area, he said that the demand of sand is heavy as people come from Zunheboto, Wokha, Kohima, Pfütsero, Zubza, Phek, Tseminyu, Peren etc. and even from some districts of Manipur. “We have Dhansiri sand, Doyapur sand (both local sands), Kanighat sand and Selonijan sand (both Deopani sands from Assam),” the stockiest informed and continued that Kanighat sand is very good and reliable for major construction purpose.
He said that the rate of Doyapur sand is around Rs. 6 Cft, Dhansiri sand is around Rs. 5 Cft and Deopani sand is around Rs. 22 Cft. When enquired about why the rate of Deopani sand is high, he also mentioned that the sand comes from Assam and has to cross many check gates where the trucks have to pay taxes.
While talking to construction supervisor, Ram Shavak Singh, he disclosed that the main reason of high demand for Deopani sand rather than local sands for construction in the State is its cleanliness and absence of salinity. “Even the people favour Deopani sand for construction of RCC buildings, surfacing, plastering etc.” he underlined.
He also cautioned that using local sand in major constructions of buildings can be hazardous as the local sand has high presence of soil and salinity, which would affect the iron rods. Singh further disclosed that due to high price of Deopani sand most people usually mix local sand with Deopani sand for constructions.
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