Insight on India

From The Centre for Development of Stones (CDOS)

Dimensional stones are a major economic commodity in India. The stone sector in India provides employment to more than one million people, and it has grown at a remarkable pace over the past decade to take India to the forefront of the world stone scenario. The Indian stone industry achieved global recognition and overcame many constraints.
India is one of the few countries in the world possessing a wide spectrum of dimensional stones, including granite, marble, sandstone, limestone, slate, and quartzite. The Indian stone industry has evolved into the following production and manufacturing categories:
• Dimensional-stone blocks for monumental and building purposes;
• Processed monuments and tombstones;
• Structural slabs in all forms;
• Sculptures and artifacts;
• Calibrated modular tiles; and
• Cobbles, cubes, curbs and landscape garden stones
The stone industry in India has now graduated to the use of modern technology, with widespread use of excavators, front-end loaders, jet burners, diamond wire saws, hydraulic and line drillers, fixed derricks, tiling plants, gangsaws and CNC machines. Consumables and tools are now mostly manufactured within India.

A TRADITION OF STONE ARCHITECTURE
Indian natural stones have traditionally been an excellent building material. The Taj Mahal at Agra stands testimony to the age-defying beauty of Indian marble.
Indian architecture has always relied on stone. Innumerable temples, forts and palaces of ancient Indian civilization were carved out of locally available stones. Some of the ancient rock-cut wonders are Khajuraho Temple, Elephanta Caves and Konark Temple. And, all major archeological excavations have revealed exquisitely carved statuettes and carvings in stone. Old Buddhist Architecture, like the Sanchi Stupa, have also been carved out of stone
In India, the tradition of stone architecture continues in the present era; most of the important modern buildings in India like the Presidential House, Parliament House and Supreme Court, are made from high quality sandstone quarried in Rajasthan. The Lotus Temple at Delhi stands testimony to the relevance of marble in modern Indian architecture.
Stone is still the mainstay of civil construction in India, with the use of stones penetrating to the burgeoning middle class of India. The extent of stone use in India can only be gauged by the fact that the domestic consumption of natural stones in India exceeds 50 billion rupees (or $1.2 billion in U.S. currency) per annum.

INEXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCES
Dimensional stone resources are widespread in India. The calcareous stones are largely spread over the northwest and the siliceous stones in the Deccan peninsula in the south. With immense resources of granite, marble, sandstone, slate, flaggy limestone and quartzite, India is a treasure trove of dimensional stones in the world.
Marble – Marble reserves in India are estimated at 1.2 billion tons,with Rajasthan accounting for 91 percent of the total Indian reserves. Marble occurs mainly in the state of Rajasthan, spread over the districts of Nagaur, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Banswara, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Sirohi, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Bundi, Alwar and Pali. Good varieties of marble are also available in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
The main varieties are Green, Makrana Albeta White, Makrana Kumari White, Makrana Dungri White, Jhiri Onyx, Phalodi Pink, Ambaji White, Indo-Italian, Babarmal Pink, Bhainslana Black, Forest Green, Forest Brown, Agaria White and Morwar White.
Granite – India is endowed with one of the best granite deposits in the world, having excellent varieties in more than 200 shades. India accounts for more than 20 percent of the world resources in granite. Granite reserves in India are estimated at over 1.6 billion cubic meters.
Splendid black and multicolor varieties of granite are available in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Uttar Pradesh. Granite deposits are also widespread over the provinces of Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal and Gujarat.
Sandstone – Sandstone reserves in India are estimated at around 1billion tons, and spread over the states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamilnadu and West Bengal. More than 90 percent of the deposits of sandstone are in Rajasthan, spread over the districts of Bharatpur, Dholpur, Kota, Jodhpur, Sawai-Madhopur, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Bikaner, Jhalawar, Pali and Jaisalmer.
Important varieties are Rainbow, Teak, Modak, Kher, Budh, Bansi Pink, Mandana, Dholpur Red and Beige, Agra Red, Shivpuri Mint, Lalitpur Grey and Lalitpur Yellow.
Slate – Slate deposits in India are estimated at around 500 million tons. They are found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Deposits in Rajasthan, estimated at 50 million tons, are spread over the districts of Alwar, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Pali, Udaipur, Churu and Chittorgarh.
Important varieties are multi-colored, Blackish Grey, Golden, Copper, Silver Shine, Speckle, Deoli and Mahu.
Flaggy Limestone – Limestone deposits are widespread in Rajasthan, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. In Rajasthan, flaggy limestone occurs in Ramganjmandi (Kotastone), Chittorgarh and Jaisalmer. In Andhra Pradesh, Cuddappah stone occurs in Cuddappah, Kurnool, Anantapur and Guntoor Districts. Important varieties are Greenish Blue, Pale Brown and Black

LEADER IN PRODUCTION
The Indian stone industry has been growing steadily at an annual rate of around 10 percent. However, it leapt by a phenomenal rate of 30 percent in the last year (FY 1999-2000) where data is available.

EXPORT TRENDS
India is a leading exporter of stones and ranks third (in terms of tonnage) after Italy and China.
India’s position in the world export trade (in terms of tonnage) is:
• Third in world stone exports, with a worldwide market share of approximately 10 percent
• First in raw siliceous product (granite & sandstone) exports. India is a global leader in terms of granite exports, and has consistently maintained its position
• Fifth in raw calcareous product (marble, flaggy limestone) exports.
Indian Stone Exports comprise mainly of granite cut blocks, slabs and tiles. The share of marble, slate and sandstone in the export mix is steadily increasing, however. The major importers of Indian stones are the United States, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Germany and China.

STONE HANDICRAFTS
India has an ancient tradition of stone sculpture, remnants of which are dotted all over the country in the form of cave carvings, temples, palaces and Buddhist stupas. The rich tradition of the artisans has carried forward though generations to the present day. Using the simplest of tools, coupled with expertise, patience and perseverance, these artisans create works of splendor that have few parallels anywhere in the world.
Indian artisans now produce a blend of the modern with ancient, and are capable of reproducing music in stones. Many units with the latest in stone processing technology are also in use within India.

STONE MACHINERY, TOOLS & CONSUMABLE SCENARIO
There is a growing mechanization and technological upgrade of the stone industry in India. Most of the machinery now being installed by the stone-processing industry, especially in the marble and sandstone sector, is manufactured in India.
India now produces marble gang saws and tiling plants, circular saws for granite and polishing machines. Quarrying equipment like pneumatic jackhammers, diesel-powered compressors, hydraulic jacks, splitting equipment, winches, excavators, and air pillows are now being produced in the country. Indian-designed and -produced machinery by industries in western Rajasthan produce stone artwork of the highest tolerance and finishing standards.
Wholly owned Indian companies, as well as subsidiaries of foreign multinationals make the material-handling equipment and machinery entirely in India. For loading and unloading of blocks at quarrying and processing plants machinery such as jib cranes, derricks, excavators and mobile cranes are being manufactured in India.
Abrasives, tools and consumables are being produced within India in joint ventures and collaborations with foreign companies. However, there is a void in the production of epoxy resins, as well as finishing and polishing compounds.
The machinery being produced in India involves a low- to medium-level of technology, with most of the controls being handled manually rather that with CNC automation. Hence, Indian machinery holds tremendous potential for exports to other Third World countries in view of its low cost and high quality.
For more information, contact Kulveer Singh, Centre for Development of Stones (CDOS), kulveer@cdos-india.com.

This article first appeared in the April 2003 print edition of Stone Business. ©2003 Western Business Media Inc.