OBJECTIVE

To develop and modernize the Minor Mineral's sub-sector and make it globally competitive through upgrading of technology and development of mining skills. Southern Rajasthan is rich in mineral wealth & varieties of minerals are found here. Few of the minerals are Zinc, Lead, Dolomite, Limestone, Rock-Phosphate, Soap-Stone etc.

Fast Facts:

• India ranks amongst the Top Five Countries in Marble Export. In 1996-97 India exported marble worth US $ 27 Million.

• Indian production of marble is nearly 10% of total world production and 95% of this comes from Rajasthan State only

• Nearly 95% of marble deposits of the state of Rajasthan are found & exploited in the districts of Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittor, Banswara, Dungarpur, Nagore, Sirohi and Ajmer. The Marble Industries generate significant revenue, export earnings and provides employment to a large no. of rural people

• In Rajasthan 2.50 million tones of marble is produced annually and roughly 5.5 lakh tones of slurry is generated every year.

• In recent years the problem of environmental & ecological degradation, due to generation slurry from Marble & its utilisation and unsystematic disposal is becoming a cause of concern to all.

// Activities:

Conducted

• Detailed Survey of all the existing Marble mines and processing units to identify common needs, problems generally faced by entrepreneurs, assistance required by them in various fields like technology, Consultancy, marketing, H.R.D. etc.

• A Consultant group to tackle all multi-disciplinary issues facing this industry by giving onsite support.
  

• Visit of consultants to various mining units has been made and problems of entrepreneurs are being solved.

• Visit of Project team to various Mining units of Green Marble at Kesariaji on 6th & 7th July 1999 to study and identify their mining problems, Training needs have been identified and a report has been prepared.

• Visit of Project team to various Mining units of White Marble at Rajsamand on 19th July to study and identify their mining problems, Training needs have been identified and a report has been prepared.

• We have organized a Skill and Technology Up-gradation Program of one month’s duration for the benefit of mining engineers / mine managers engaged in the mining of marble. This program was started on 13th September 1999 and completed on 9th October 1999.

• For gainful utilization of marble slurry a National Level workshop was organized at UCCI on 21-22 March 99 and follow up action on its recommendations are being taken.

• For safe & economic handling of marble slurry with conservation of water a product named filter press was developed and demonstrated at M/S Arihant Marbles & Tiles Pvt. Ltd, Udaipur. Its Order has been placed for installation of first commercial filter press.

• The feasibility of Filter Press was studied and found that the product tested can handle the problem effectively and also Techno-Economic Feasibility Report has been prepared.

• Marble slurry bricks manufactured at Udaipur by marble slurry & normal slurry bricks have been sent to Central Building Research Institute,(CBRI) Roorkee for testing suitability as well as comparison of techno-economic parameters in civil construction.

• Shri P.R. Venktachalam, Vice President & Project Coordinator (Minor- Minerals) and Shri Subash Pathlam, Project Coordinator (Rural Tourism) attended the conference titled“ The Challenges of Emerging Clusters” from 8th to12th November 1999 at ville ponti varse near Milano, Italy organised by The Competitive Institute, Valles Technology Park, Barcelona-Spain. Thereafter, they had also visited Netherlands & France for studying the functioning of clusters of these two sectors in those countries.

• The research work awarded to Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) New Delhi and to Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, regarding gainful utilisation of marble slurry is being carried out and we have requested Collector Rajsamand to recommend our request to DSIR, Govt. of India, to bear the 50 % of the total project cost for gainful utilisation of marble slurry in road construction & mass concrete work and the progress is being monitored regularly. The work of production & testing of roof tiles & floor tiles made out of marble slurry in the premises of our Field Support Unit M/s Indian environment Society (IES) is being carried out. The test result will be received after the testing is over.

• The Commercial Filter press manufactured by M/s Yo- Tana Machine Tools Private Limited, Ahemdabad is now due to be supplied for installation at Arihant Tiles & Marbles (P) Ltd., Amberi, Udaipur, our Field Support Unit. Foundation drawings etc. for installing this filter press have been provided to FSU for making advance preparation.

• Actions have been initiated for undertaking the proposed training programmes on Skill & Technology Upgradation for young mining engineers and for young mechanical engineers in mining & processing respectively of marble. The response received so far is not very encouraging.

• A detailed survey of the artisans engaged in producing value-added products of marble in Titardi –Savina area was conducted and a meeting with these artisans was held on Sunday the 26th December 1999 at Titardi to discuss the Role of UCCI in upgrading the skills of artisans for improving their productivity and to assess the need for conducting a Programme on value addition to marble waste.

• Actions have been initiated for landfill site allotment through district administration Udaipur, for disposal of marble slurry only at earmarked sites. In addition, we have invited proposals from outside consultants for preparation of solid waste disposal management plan for marble processing industries in Sukher area at earmarked sites.

Proposed

• Mining Technology Upgradation
  Preparation & distribution of simple guide books for proper mining. (do’s & don’ts)
  Networking for basic quality testing facility at resource organization.
   

• Management of Waste for Ecology Pollution Control
  Execution and completion of research projects on marble waste use at various research laboratories.
  Installation of Commercial filter press for waste water recycling at Field Support Unit.
  The work on landfill site allotment, topographical surveying and start filling of marble slurry at this site.
  Allotment of land for marble park is suggested by DMG and utilizing our facilities as a training institute etc.
   

• Entrepreneurship / HRD Development
  Short training courses for young entrants in the marble / mining sector in best practices in mining, machinery maintenance and dimensional stone product manufacture.
  
  Survey, identification and mobilization of stone artisan groups who can / are work on value addition to waste marble.
   

• Marketing Assistance
  Organize study tour of marble cluster / processing industry in Italy.
  Experiment for forming market consortia of micro enterprises.

Marbles:

The statistics of 1995 says that India by producing 25 million tons (which forms 10% of the total world marble production) occupies 9th position in the world. Presently in Rajasthan there are 1100 slabs manufacturing units and this is considered as 90% of the total marble slabs production of India.

Total production of marble in Rajasthan is valued at US$ 450 million and exports contribute about US$ 24 million.Export from India is primarily that of Green marble.

The technology for utilization of residual and waste marble products is yet to be developed for introduction by industry.

Indian manufacturers are unable to realize full value of marble market, because the entire exports are conducted through the intermediaries.

The development of marble units in the modern times of competition and liberalization is viable only when they adopt the modern management and marketing techniques.