Mumbai, Apr 17 (PTI) Builders Association of India (BAI) has welcomed the decision of Ministry of Environment & Forests to lift the ban on sand mining in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra.
"The announcement made by Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister for Environment & Forest, gives the construction industry a significant relief, which is bound to help in realising some of the major infrastructure and housing projects planned by the government itself," BAI's President, Cherian Varkey said in a statement here.
We hope that the Minister would consider relaxing such a ban in Thane and Raigad district at least for a period of two years since transporting sand from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg to Mumbai covering a distance of over 400 kms, would add to the cost of construction, which is already very high, Varkey said.