Stone units in MP into murky waters

As many as 50,000 workers in more than 200 small-scale stone- cutting and- polishing units in the Barodi (Shivpuri) industrial area are starving.

Most of the units now wear a deserted look, two years after the closure of the Majhera and other 117 stone mines. The district administration had banned mining in Shivpuri in 2005 and discontinued the issuance of fresh lease to raw material suppliers who fed these units.

Shivpuri is known for its gray, white and 'panther' stones which are used in building material. The stone, till recently, was also exported in large quantity to Germany, the US, the UK and Gulf nations.

Administrative authorities have, allegedly, also imposed a mandatory rule of 'transport permit' on those factories that run on the costly Gwalior mines making it difficult to survive. "It is local Royal families' politics. Now, after closer of mines, thousands of people have either migrated or facing starvation," said a unit-owner Harvilas Rathore.

The authorities are tight-lipped despite announcement of re-opening of mines by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a recent by-election in Shivpuri.

"We are helpless for court has banned an activity, we only can wait for the court orders in this matter. We have discontinued mines of Majhera, Rajpur and Bedmau," a senior official in the state department of mines said.

Stone unit holders and lease holders say that they were mining in an excess area of 55 hectares, which is far away from main mines. "Our cooperative is registered in 1954 with 400 members. After the closer of the Majhera mines, now we have no option left," Iqrar Khan, a member of Sahakar Shilpkar Majdoor Sangh told Business Standard.

Few unit holders are importing stones from the Ghatigaon mines in Gwalior but it is a costly affair.

"The Ghatigaon mines were closed but reopened recently. We are procuring stones from those mines but against the total cost of Rs 15,000 per 20 tonne. With local transportation, loading and unloading, and non-availability of labours, the cost escalates up to Rs 35,000 for the same quantity. There are no takers for costly stones," Mukesh Sharma of Shree Maa Stones said. He has recently closed his unit.

Harivilas Rathore, says he will close his unit. "Survival on the Ghatigaon mines is too costly to afford. I process hardly two tonnes of stones these days. Earlier 15 tonnes of daily supply was a regular affair," he said.

A stone cutting and polishing unit in Shivpuri provided direct jobs to at least 15 people with an investment of minimum Rs four lakh. The units registered a roaring business during the last 10 years. The units, suppliers and exporters provide jobs to at least 50,000 people in the town and its vicinity, which has a population of more than one-and-a-half lakh.