5 new sand quarries in a week at Villupuram and Cuddalore districts

Officials said they will open nine more quarries in April, while they seek to identify quality bidders for the five quarries. 

Public Works Department (PWD) sources said the tender process is under way and the work order will be given soon to a bidder for opening the quarries. Further, technical bids will be opened for the five quarries on March 28, while bids will be opened for four other quarries on April 4. 

“During the technical bids, we have to verify details of the bidders and check if they are capable of undertaking the bid. We have already selected a couple of bidders for opening five new quarries in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts,” said an official, preferring anonymity. However, the officials have been struggling to find quality bidders for opening five more quarries in the Cauvery river belt. 

A special officer (Sand Mining Wing) said they were formulating a mechanism unlike in the past, under which the officials have issued strict regulations like installation of CCTV cameras near the quarries. “To prevent political involvement and maintain transparency in the tender process, we floated e-tender for opening sand quarries for the first time. We are keen to hand over the tender and subsequent work order to quality bidders,” the official said, and expressed hope that the five quarries would be opened within a week. 

Meanwhile, sources at the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority said the officials held a pre-bid meeting for importing river sand. 

“There was good response, as we received more bidders for importing river sand. We selected a sizable number of bidders, who have to participate in the technical bids,” said an official, adding that the whole process will be completed by the beginning of April.