ગુજરાતી
English
Dilip Patel
Ahmedabad, 11 June 2026
Dolomite is a natural stone rich in calcium and magnesium, which is mined in the form of powder or chips and is used in ceramics, steel, glass and agriculture sectors.
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral, composed primarily of calcium magnesium carbonate.
Calcium, Magnesium, Carbon.
use of dolomite
It is used in applying lime in agriculture. In ceramic industry, morbi tiles and sanitary ware industry. In steel industry as flux in steel making furnaces. To strengthen glass in the glass industry. To improve acidic soil in farming. For making high-temperature bricks in refractory industry. As filler in paint, plastic and rubber, detergent powder factory, pharmaceutical, chemical industry, metallurgy, cement and other fields. Used in architectural decoration, sculpture, handicrafts.
Chhota Udaipur
The most opposition to dolomite mines in Gujarat has been seen mainly in Chhota Udaipur district. Over the past few years, people from tribal villages, miners and local industrialists have protested against the closure of dolomite mines and the issuance of new permits.
The closure of around 69 dolomite mines in the Chhota Udepur area by 2025 reportedly impacts thousands of workers and local dolomite powder units.
Protest
The following issues are commonly raised regarding dolomite mines in Chhota Udepur and surrounding areas:
Impact on forests and tribal lands
dust and air pollution
impact on groundwater
Environmental issues vs employment
Mining Permit and Environmental Clearance Process
History of Chhota Udepur
1960–1980: Beginning of the mining industry
After the formation of Gujarat state, mineral surveys started in the tribal areas of eastern Gujarat.
Dolomite deposits were identified in the Chhota Udepur–Kadipani–Tejgarh area.
Private leases were granted and small open-cast mining began. Dolomite started being supplied to Morbi, Vadodara and steel industries.
1980–2000: rapid growth
The demand for dolomite increased with the development of Morbi ceramic industry.
Dolomite mines spread around the Kadipani fluorspar belt.
Mining became the main employment for tribal labourers.
2000–2013
Environmental clearance became necessary. Many small mine operators got caught up in the legal process.
2013–2024
After the formation of Chhota Udaipur district, mining emerged as the largest private industry activity in the district.
The district became a hub of dolomite, fluorite, granite and sand mining.
Main villages of dolomite mines
Dolomite corridor of Kadripani, Ambadungar, Ambala, Antroi-Antroli, Chhatwara, Chiliawant, Koliyathar, Bhipur, Khasra, Lehwant, Nakamli, Padaliya, Padarwant, Raisinghpur, Surkheda, Dadigam, Jer, Hansot, Diwant, Dhamodi, Quant talukas.
Mineral Belt – Tejgarh – Ambala – Antroi – Kadripani – Quant Corridor.
lease area
Most of the leases of dolomite mines in Chhota Udaipur district:
There are mines ranging from 2 hectares to 50 hectares. The dolomite lease area probably ranges between 2,000–4,000 hectares.
number of mines
Chhota Udaipur is surrounded by forests and rocks, hence farming cannot be done. Nature has provided mines of white stone. There are stones considered to be white gold here. Due to the closure of 69 dolomite mines here, 30 thousand workers have become unemployed. There are 107 factories producing dolomite stone powder. Due to the National Green Tribunal, the applications made by the Department of Mines and Minerals for environmental clearance of dolomite stone lease have been cancelled, hence the mines are closed. There are reserves of 72 crore tonnes of dolomite in the ground here.
employment
The main employment generating activity is business. People of 70 villages are getting employment from this sector. About 20 to 25 thousand workers are likely to lose their jobs and businesses. Dolomite is the only source of employment in an area of 100 kilometers. There are total 30 thousand jobs.
Several mines closed in 2025–2026 due to environmental clearance and lease issues.
The local industry association says that about 69 dolomite mines and more than 100 powder units were affected. It was claimed that the jobs of around 30,000 workers were affected.
protest movement
Rozgar Bachao Andolan (2024–2025) Dolomite Association and local tribal workers presented their views.
There have been protests in many villages against mining and mineral surveys over issues of Gram Sabha powers, PESA law and forest rights.
In 2025, tribals protested against GMDC’s rare mineral survey in several villages of Kwant taluka.
During 2025, 69 dolomite mines were closed. Truck activity reduced
Environment related problems
Big white holes in hills, open pits, erosion of hills, hilly terrain, bench cutting patterns, changes in hill slopes, new roads from mines to crushers, deforestation of forests and bushes, gray or brown dumps around mines, possibility of erosion due to rain, dust pollution, cracks in houses due to blasting, change in rain water flow, impact on forest area, bushland area, groundwater, impact on land use, Farming, forests, pastures, grazing, small water resources of rivers, crushing plants have affected the environment.
Chhota Udaipur district has more than 75,000 hectares of forest area and mining activities mostly take place in tribal and hilly areas.
mouth
**Directly Affected Villages**
Villages such as Ambala, Antroi, Chhatwada, Chiliyavant, Padliya, Padarvant, Surkheda, and Raisinhpur—with a combined population of 15,000—have been affected. Land use estimates:
More than 32 mines have been operating in the Chhota Udepur dolomite belt for decades. In 2025, it was reported that 69 mines were affected due to an economic slowdown.
**Mining Area**
Direct mining area: 800–1,500 hectares
Waste dump area: 200–500 hectares
Haul roads and access roads: 100–300 hectares
Stockyard/crushing zone: 100–250 hectares
Total affected area: 1,200–2,500 hectares
**Potential Impact**
A population of 40,000 across 15 villages and 1,200–2,500 hectares of industrial land have been affected by mining.
Of this population, 20,000 people were employed in the sector.
**Antroi Village**
The total area of Antroi village was 709.54 hectares, comprising 125 hectares of forest land and 90 hectares of non-agricultural land.
While the total forest area in Chhota Udepur is 75,704 hectares, precise data regarding the total forest acreage utilized for dolomite mines is not available in public sources.
**Industrial Zone**
Areas affected include powder processing units, stockyards, truck parking facilities, land converted for industrial use, and rural agricultural lands.
There are approximately 32 dolomite mines in Chhota Udepur, reportedly operating across various villages for the past 60–65 years. It is a major hub for dolomite processing and trading, hosting numerous mineral companies and dolomite processing units. These companies are:
Bhagwati, Ganga, Pahihar, Shiv Shakti, and Daivik Minerals.
Consumption in Morbi
How much dolomite is used in Morbi, Gujarat?
The 800 factories in Morbi’s ceramic industry utilize various raw materials—such as dolomite, feldspar, quartz, ball clay, and china clay—to produce between 1 and 1.6 billion square feet of tiles; however, they do not report dolomite consumption figures separately.
Dolomite serves as an auxiliary flux in tile bodies and glazes, though it is not a primary raw material. Morbi consumes approximately 35–50 million tonnes of ceramic raw materials annually. With dolomite estimated to account for an average of 1%–3% of this total, its usage likely ranges from 0.5 to 1 million tonnes.
Chhota Udepur is the largest source of dolomite raw material for the Morbi industry. Every year, approximately 20,000 truckloads of material are transported from Chhota Udepur to Morbi; on some days, as many as 100 trucks are loaded.
Dolomite Mining
Gujarat holds dolomite mineral reserves amounting to 7,200 lakh tonnes.
Between 2005 and 2015, the monthly production of dolomite in Gujarat typically ranged from 10,000 to 40,000 tonnes. In April 2014, monthly production reached approximately 1.14 lakh tonnes, marking the highest level recorded up to that time. Due to the economic slowdown and mine closures, production levels were: 1–2 lakh tonnes (1998–2001), 1.5–3 lakh tonnes (2005–2010), 3–6 lakh tonnes (2010–2015), 4–8 lakh tonnes (2015–2020), 5–10 lakh tonnes (2020–2024), and 5–10 lakh tonnes (2025–2026).
Dolomite consumption in Gujarat (lakh tonnes/year)
Morbi Ceramics: 5–10
Other Ceramics/Glass: 1–2
Steel/Foundry: 1–3
Agriculture and others: 0.5–1
Total (Gujarat): 7.5–16 lakh tonnes/year
Chhota Udepur Market
Initially, 12 factories were approved for dolomite grinding. In 2003–2004, production stood at 3,14,105 metric tonnes. This involved a labour cost of ₹600 crore and a stone cost of ₹20 crore; it is a labour-intensive industry.
The cost of stone was ₹370 per tonne, which rose to ₹450 per tonne a year ago.
300 trucks are in operation.
Daily production is 6,000 tonnes. The government used to receive a daily royalty of ₹5 lakh and GST revenue of ₹4.50 lakh. The monthly electricity bill amounted to ₹3 crore. Each factory involved an investment of ₹2 crore.
Dolomite powder is mixed with a binder and pressed into spherical shapes, making it easier to transport and use.
Dolomite powder is traded across the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Price and Market (2025–26; Rupees per tonne)
The estimated average price of dolomite in India ranges from ₹1,800 to ₹3,500 per tonne. Raw dolomite (ex-mine): ₹500 – ₹1,500
Dolomite chips: ₹1,100 – ₹1,500
100–200 mesh dolomite powder: ₹1,000 – ₹1,300
250–400 mesh dolomite powder: ₹1,400 – ₹2,000
High-purity (99%+) dolomite powder: ₹1,500 – ₹3,000
Calcined dolomite: ₹1,000 – ₹5,000 per tonne (depending on quality)
Price of 1 million tonnes of dolomite
Assuming an average price of ₹2,000 per tonne, the value of 1 million tonnes would be ₹200 crore.
Mine prices in Chhota Udepur (₹/tonne)
2010: 250–350
2015: 550–700
2020: 650–950
2024: 1,100–1,500
2026: 850–1,250
Prices in Morbi (₹/tonne)
2010: 600–900
2015: 1,000–1,500
2020: 1,400–2,200
2024: 1,800–3,500
2026: 1,700–3,000
Illegal mining in Chhota Udepur
Illegal mining of dolomite stone takes place in several locations. Illegal mineral extraction took place at dolomite stone mines in Kanavant and Dari villages. In February 2025, material worth ₹2 crore was seized, along with 20 vehicles. Legal proceedings against dolomite mines are rare. (Google translation from Gujarati; see report on this website.)
Why were the roads not built? The GUJ.govt has rendered 30 thousand people unemployed
