States especially - Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh should adopt centre's Granite Conservation and Development (GCDR) rules for healthy competition and for uniform development of granite industry, said Mr Vishwapati Trivedi, Union Secretary, Ministry of Mines.
Addressing the 10th edition of international granites and stone fair (Stona), Mr Trivedi appealed to the southern states to adopt GCDR and said, “Currently the industry is witnessing haphazard growth in all the southern states and need of the hour is uniform legislation and GCDR fits in well.”
“In addition to uniform legislation, the GCDR will bring in transparency especially related to land leasing,” he added.
The current turnover of granite industry is around Rs 30,000 crore.
Southern States' share is Rs 18,000, Rajasthan's Rs 7,000 crore and other States around Rs 5,000 crore.
According to the DGFT assessment granite exports in 2010-11 stood at Rs 7,000 crore.
Talking about the MMDR Bill introduced recently in Parliament, Mr Trivedi the Bill is before the Parliamentary Standing Committee for review and just last week, the committee has sought for suggestions from public and industry bodies.
“It is here the All India Granite and Stone Association (AIGSA) should take advantage and push for its cause. The Bill, when it comes into effect in the six months, will usher in transparency, sustainability and will also address interaction with other departments like MOEF,” he said.
Mr J.B. Surana, President, AIGSA, in his address said, “When we launched our first trade show (Stona) way back in 1987, our export was Rs 50 crore, today with the completion of 9th fair in 2010 our exports has reached to Rs 6,000 crore. We expect to touch Rs 10,000 crore mark this year.”
Global stone tech park
The Karnataka Government is committed to house global stone tech park in and around Bangalore, said Mr Murugesh R. Nirani, Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries.
He urged the AIGSA to approach the Government with a firm proposal for the park.
“At present, according to our land bank policy, we have identified land in 133 industrial areas and 1.18 lakh acres have been identified for acquisition.
“We have also created data base of farmers who are willing to sell the land with whom the industry can directly talk to,” he said.
Resources
Mr Nirani said, “Karnataka is bestowed with vast resources of granite and stone deposits.
The State has around 789 million cubic meters of various varieties of granite deposits.
“The new minerals policy focuses on value-addition. We encourage granite cutting and polishing units which will add value.”
“Also we have brought out new industrial policy 2009-14 which extends attractive incentives and concessions,” he added.
Ms Aruna Kumari Galla, Andhra Pradesh, Minister for Mines and Geology, said “In Andhra Pradesh as of now 1,485 black granite and 1,169 colour granite quarry leases, over an extent of 5,866 hectares are working.
The production of granite from these quarries is in the order of 9.3 lakh cubic meters in 2010-11 and the State contributes about 35 to 40 per cent of granite exports in the country.”