Building on alternative materials

Increasing problems in availability of sand and bricks and rising prices are hitting construction costs and schedules, say developers and builders.

However, a silver lining is that the high cost of traditional materials is driving demand for modern alternatives, including manufactured sand and brick substitutes such as aerocon blocks.

But a concerted programme is needed to promote its usage. There is a market resistance to new products, which can be countered with awareness building.

According to representatives of the Builders Association of India, manufactured sand from stone quarries and brick substitutes can be relatively more environment-friendly and prevent over-exploitation of river sand and clay.

Large players are taking to these new materials but smaller builders are slow to change, though they are the most affected by the high cost of brick and sand. The Government should start using these new products in its projects to encourage market acceptance. They recall the resistance to fly ash-blended cement a decade or two ago and how it had been overcome with awareness and education.

For the price increase, builders blame prevailing practices and weather conditions. While brick prices could come down to normal levels soon, sand prices are unlikely to drop in the near future

According to Mr Chitty Babu, President, Tamil Nadu chapter of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI), authorities have stopped mechanised mining of sand following environmental concerns. But manual operations have hit output and driven up costs.

The Government could look at regulated mechanisation of operations to step up output. With the growth in infrastructure and increasing demand the Government should intervene with appropriate measures. .

Since August, prices of sand have doubled to about Rs 50 a cu.ft and a brick is priced at about Rs 7 now against Rs 3-4 earlier. Longer than normal spells of rain and non-availability of clay have hit brick kiln operations but with the weather clearing up brick availability and prices are expected to settle.

Sand and bricks, apart from steel, cement and aggregate, constitute the prime raw material that goes into construction. In a construction project, materials constitute three-fourths of the cost and labour the balance, he says.

The increase in prices impact project cost, which will inflate up to 5 per cent. Steel and cement prices have also increased in this period with cement prices going up to Rs 240 a bag from Rs 140.

Alternatives are available in the form of ‘M Sand' or manufactured sand which is available from stone crushing units. These are a popular option in neighbouring States.

While such units are present in central and southern parts of Tamil Nadu, M Sand is in short supply in Chennai and surrounding areas. Similarly, bricks can be substituted with materials such as aerocon blocks. These are light weight, aerated building blocks made from materials such as fly ash.

According to Mr R. Sarabeswar, Chief Executive Officer, Consolidated Construction Corporation Ltd, a Chennai-based infrastructure company, one benefit of the increasing costs of basic building materials is that alternatives that had been comparatively costly are becoming more viable.

For instance, despite the soaring cost of river sand, manufactured sand prices were relatively stable at about Rs 11 a cubic ft. The growing demand for this substitute is encouraging stone crushing units to set up the additional equipment — primarily sieves to filter out specific grades of stone dust — at the quarries.

Similarly, brick substitutes, which are made in modern units, can be moved in from neighbouring States. The costs are beneficial despite the additional transportation factor. Specifications are also good, say builders.

>blproperty@thehindu.co.in

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