Members of the granite industry which has just been recovering from the effects of Covid, fear that if the war situation worsens, it could impact the delivery of export orders as it would be difficult to even get containers.
Chamarajanagar district alone has over 60 black granite quarries and 12 polishing and cutting industries. But with the pandemic, nearly 60 per cent of the production had been hit.The Chamarajanagar black granite is known for its uniqueness, evenness and shine. It is much sought after in the US, Europe, Russia and Ukraine, where it is used as tombstones by Christian, Jewish and other communities.
Granite Industries Association president GM Hegde said that many quarry companies deliver the stones to exporters in Bengaluru and Hosur, from where they are packed and delivered to the rest of the world. “We are yet to deal with losses suffered during the pandemic and the war is not a good sign for our industry,” he added.
The red granite from Kanakapura too is in high demand in Europe and Russia, where the stone is used as kitchen slabs and for flooring. The stone cutting and polishing units here employ hundreds of people and compete directly with Germany, China, the US and Australia.Mines and Geology Department officials said that if there is a fall in production and exports, it will directly affect revenue collections of the state government.
Source: www.newindianexpress.com
