Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 8: The district administration had streamlined the system of selling sand to those who are in need without any hitch, but the system has hit a roadblock. Because the lorry owners and dock operators do not seem to be in a mood to work for the success of the scheme.

The public who book sand on the app online have not been getting sand. Frustrated at the agonizing wait and non-response, if they call the sand bazaar operators, people get the response that the money remitted by them would be refunded. 

Why the problem: The district sand management committee has fixed Rs 7,550 for 10 metric tonnes of coarse sand and Rs 8,330 for soft sand. It is said that the lorries are not cooperating as they feel that this money is not enough. 

Once the sand is booked on the sand bazar app, and money is remitted online, sand has to be supplied from the nearest dock. This phone number of the lorry which brings sand, booking number, and OTP are conveyed to the purchasers by way of SMS. When the lorry arrives, this SMS has to be shown to them.

But in many cases, the lorries never bring the sand. Many complaints have been received. Jayaram from Kotekar says that even after four days, the sand booked by him was not delivered. When the driver is called, they just say that sand would arrive the next day. Many times drivers do not pick the phones. Sand bazaar staff, when contacted, ask people to wait for two days. They also promise to refund the amount if the sand is not received. Jayaram wonders what is the advantage of the online booking system. 

CRZ sand is now being supplied through Sand Bazaar app but the buyers say that that quality of sand is now known and there is no guarantee of quality. It is said that because of the bad quality, some contractors buy sand in the black market at cheaper prices. It is said that as against the Sand Bazaar rate of Rs 7,000 per load of sand, good quality sand is available in the black market for Rs 5,000 to 6,000.

Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner Dr Rajendra says that complaints if any would be addressed and that if good quality sand is not delivered after booking, it can be replaced. Geologist of mines and geology department Niranjan says that three kinds of sand are sold through Sand Bazaar app. He said that CRZ sand cannot be sold in black. He has asked people who are not getting sand though Sand Bazaar app to file a complaint with the department.