Marble unit to come up in Katni for Rs 400 cr

Delhi-based Siddhi Vinayak Industries Ltd (SVIL) is setting up its marble-cutting and polishing unit in Katni with an investment of Rs 400 crore. The firm has invested a considerable amount in setting up the unit.

According to sources, the firm has invested Rs 280 crore in Katni and will invest further, and the amount will touch Rs 400 crore.

Katni is known for its marble of international quality. Under a central government scheme, the state government is developing a stone park in Katni.

Katni marble is being exported to countries like the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Kuwait, Nigeria, Manama, and the US.

SVIL has approached the apex empowerment committee on investment to grant sops and concessions and sought assistance in getting clearance from the central government for its Katni venture.

The firm has plans to complete the setting up of the unit by October-November.

However, government sources say the firm may face problems in getting concessions because stone cutting and polishing fall in the negative list.

"The apex committee is unlikely to offer concessions and sops since stone cutting and mining activity is on the negative list," said a senior government official.

Although the state government is developing a Stone park under a Central government scheme, "The firm is setting up its unit outside the park," said a source.

The source said a number of firms are setting up units outside the park since government fails to deliver facilities and the activities are restricted in the park as a result firms shy away from the park.

On the basis of marbles found in the Slimnabad (Slimnabad village was formed by Colonel Saliman in 1832 after taking land from Kohka village), the Katni's park will be cluster of industries for increasing marble production and export it will be commercial place for immarti stone.

Unlike other parks a number of stone cutting and polishing units have approached the government to get tax concessions and sops, said the source. The Katni marble exposed to global market in 1865 in an exhibition in Paris. Marble deposit in Madhya Pradesh is estimated at 400 million tonnes.