Mysuru: Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka.

The objective of the MoU is to authorize the Civil Engineering Departments of the VTU affiliated colleges to test the Manufactured Sand (M-Sand) produced by the licensed M-Sand crushing units in the state of Karnataka.

On this occasion Dr. V. Sridhar, incharge Vice Chancellor of VTU said: “Now-a-days because of limited supply of Natural River sand the use of manufactured sand becomes inevitable. Therefore, Dept. of Mines and Geology, Govt. of Karnataka has engaged in production and M-Sand and also issued licenses to the private crushing units. But, the produced M-Sand should be fit for construction activities as per the standards laid down by the Indian Standard Codes (ISC). Visvesvaraya Technological University and its affiliated colleges have laboratories and technical manpower to test the M-Sand as per the standards of ISC. Hence, as per the MoU, all the VTU affiliated engineering colleges having Civil Engineering Departments will be authorized to undertake testing of M-Sand samples produced in the state of Karnataka”.

Dr. H. N. Jagannatha Reddy, Registrar of VTU and S. S. Pattanshetty, Commissioner, Dept. of Mines and Geology, Govt. of Karnataka singedMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Bengaluru. Shashikanth Reddy, Deputy Director, Minerals was present on this occasion.