The Hindu Business Line : Marble testing lab planned at Jaipur

A nine-and-a-half feet silver-grey granite robot displayed at Stona' 04, the sixth international granite & stone fair, at Bangalore on Wednesday. The robot weighing about 4 tonnes, costs Rs 3.5 lakhs. — G.R.N. Somashekar

Bangalore , Feb. 4

THE United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is assisting the Union Ministry of Mines and Geology and the Rajasthan Government to set up a laboratory for testing marbles in Jaipur, the Regional Director of UNIDO, Mr George B. Assaf, said here today.

At the inaugural of Stona 2004, the sixth international stone industry trade fair, Mr Assaf said that the laboratory would help the Indian marble industry to certify their products in accordance with international standards, which becomes mandatory next year for exports to the US and Europe. The laboratory is expected to be operational by June this year, he added.

The sixth edition of Stona is organised by the All India Granites and Stones Association (AIGSA).

UNIDO is providing equipment and expertise valued at Rs 1 crore for the laboratory, while the Rajasthan Government and the Union Ministry of Mines were contributing about Rs 85 lakh each, he added.

Mr Assaf observed that the India was fast catching up with the global industry in terms of quality and product standards. UNIDO, Mr Assaf said, was also upgrading infrastructure at the National Institute of Rock Mechanics in Kolar to certify for granites in a similar way.

According to AIGSA, the exports of granites and marbles are expected to register a 8.5 per cent growth in the current fiscal to touch Rs 3,450 crore as compared to Rs 3,179 crore in 2002-03.

The Karnataka Mines and Geology Minister, Mr V. Muniyappa said the exports of ornamental stones from the State were gaining momentum and that the annual royalty earned from the mining sector has touched Rs 200 crore in the last two years, up from Rs 120 crore earlier. The State Government has been taking several steps for exploration and scientific exploitation of natural resources, he added.

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