Hanoi (VNA), March 1 -- In a written response to a lawmaker's inquiry on March 1, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed ministries, agencies, and localities to address challenges hindering the timely supply of materials, particularly sand, for infrastructure projects in the Mekong Delta.

Acknowledging the limitations of completely replacing natural sand with artificial alternatives, he highlighted the high costs associated with large-scale rock quarrying and establishing production lines to meet the demand.

Therefore, it is preferable to prioritise artificial sand as a substitute for natural sand in specific projects in certain items with relatively low consumption, such as asphalt concrete and cement concrete production, he said.

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