Kerala’s construction material shortage may ease by the end of October after Tamil Nadu assured the state that it would take a more liberal approach and facilitate additional supplies, Chief Minister V D Satheesan told the Assembly on Tuesday. The shortage has sharply increased building costs and is particularly affecting households from economically weaker sections.
Replying to questions from P A Mohammad Riyas of the CPI(M), Satheesan said Kerala had experienced a decline in the availability of quarry materials after several quarries shut down for different reasons. With local production falling, the state became increasingly dependent on supplies from Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister said a load of material that earlier cost around Rs 2,500 in Tamil Nadu was now being purchased for between Rs 6,000 and Rs 9,000. Supplies stopped by Tamil Nadu had further aggravated the shortage in Kerala, he said.
Satheesan cited the cost of constructing a small 400-square-foot, two-room house as an example of the impact on residents. Such a house, which could be built for around Rs 5 lakh two years ago, now costs more than Rs 8 lakh, he said, describing the situation as a serious problem.
The Chief Minister said he had directly contacted his Tamil Nadu counterpart and held discussions on restoring and increasing the movement of materials. The assurance of additional supplies by the end of October is expected to provide some relief, although the state government acknowledged that dependence on neighbouring states would not offer a permanent solution.
Kerala is examining the use of alternative construction materials and recycling, while also identifying quarries that could be reopened after meeting environmental requirements. The government has not indicated how many quarries may resume operations or how much additional material could become available through the proposed measures.
Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said the government was taking time-bound steps to remove hurdles and enable legally operating quarries to resume work after obtaining the necessary clearances. A meeting involving representatives of different departments has already been held, and the Industries Department has consulted stakeholders on the shortage.
Kunhalikutty said Kerala could not meet all its requirements by cutting its own hills and mountains, making supplies from other states important. However, he said transportation from Tamil Nadu continued to create difficulties. The government is also considering an inter-state coordination mechanism to improve the movement of construction materials and address future supply disruptions.
The immediate relief for builders and households will depend on whether Tamil Nadu supplies resume at greater volumes and whether transport constraints are resolved. Kerala’s longer-term response will involve decisions on quarry clearances, environmental safeguards, alternative materials and recycling, according to the government’s statements in the Assembly.
