Granite giving marble a run for its money

Reduced cost of processing, durability and variety, granite is giving marble a run for its money. In the past 3-4 years, the industry has drawn large number of investors who have set up more than 100 units investing around Rs 500-600 crore in the Kishangarh. Ashok Dhoot, vice-chairman of Centre for Development of Stones, an arm of the industry department, said the whole economics of price and quality has turned favourable for the granite as compared to marble. While the price of granite stones from south India, considered somewhat better, starts from Rs 150 per sqft onwards, in Rajasthan the range begins from Rs 50, which is almost the cost of marble. As per the state department of mines and geology report, production of granite has increased by 48% in 2016-17, from 25.86 lakh tonnes to 38.42 lakh tonnes. In fact, there is a quantum jump in metrics like mining leases, employment, revenue, etc. between 2011-12 to 2016-17 during which many of the mines were identified and leased out. Granite reserves in Rajasthan are estimated at 8479 million cubic metre out of 42916 million cubic metre in the country and are spread in districts like Barmer, Jalore, Pali, Sirohi, Alwar, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Tonk, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Sikar and Udaipur. Quarries in Jalore, Barmer and Jaisalmer produce a wide variety of stones.