Sand import: Violators to face prison term, fine

The notification said the amendments the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959, has been amended suitably and the same had come into force from last month. 

A 10-point direction issued by the State in this regard has given monopoly to the Public Works Department (PWD) of the state government to sell the sand, which is imported either from abroad, other states or union territories.

While it mandates the importers to sell the sand to PWD alone, the sand imported which do not comply the specifications would be evacuated through sea route and would not be allowed to be transported to any other state or union territory by road or by any other mode of land transport. It has also provided the PWD to issue instructions regarding storage, transport and sale of imported sand from time to time, besides mandating the purchasers to obtain a transit pass from authenticated officials.