River sand scheme to be extended

The State government proposes to extend the scheme for providing
river sand for construction purposes to the poor at fair price to more
places. At present, it is being done only at Kulathupuzha. River sand
is being supplied to the poor at a fair price through Kalavara, a
joint venture of the Forest Department and the State Nirmithi Kendra.
It is this example that is being replicated elsewhere. The Forest
Department has sought the cooperation of the district units of the
Nirmithi Kendra to supply river sand in the seven districts of
Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur
and Kozhikode. The Kalavara outlets of the Nirmithi Kendra are already
functioning in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam,
Kozhikode and Thrissur. They are now engaged in supplying construction
materials like cement and steel to the poor at reduced price. The
government proposes to put the arrangement in place by August 31.

The Hindu, July 11