Indian District: Low Productivity

KRISHNAGIRI, India –The granite industry in the Krishnagiri is slumping due to low productivity, a slump in exports and increased production cost, reports The Hindu newspaper.
Of a total of 200 quarries, about 25 units are only operational in the north-central Indian district, according to the paper. Most quarries closed as leases ended and owners weren’t able to meet international standards; high fuel prices and a shortage of quality raw materials also are compounding the situation.
Granite quarrying is doing well in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the Hindu notes, due to geographic concentration of quarries.
In Krishnagiri, approximately 100 meters of rough blocks are now mined monthly, compared with 300 meter in the last few years. Mining at increased depths, according to the Hindu, also affected the quality of the stones due to color variations.
Krishnagiri is known for the Paradise variation of multi-colored granite, along with several black granites.