ગુજરાતી
English
Dilip Patel
Ahmedabad, 29 April 2025
Chhota Udaipur is an area surrounded by forests and rocks, so farming cannot be done. Nature has given white stone mines. Here are stones considered white gold. 30 thousand workers have become unemployed due to the closure of 69 dolomite mines here. 107 factories making dolomite stone powder are on the verge of closure. The Mines and Minerals Department has rejected the applications for environmental clearance for the lease of dolomite stone, so the mines are closed. There is 72 crore tonnes of dolomite reserve in the ground here.
The only industry in Chhota Udaipur district is dolomite, which has closed due to recession and the government’s anti-tribal policy. How dolomite mineral was formed is an unsolved mystery.
Mine closed
The lease of stone has been closed. 5 thousand workers work inside the mines.
There are mines in Ambala, Chhatwara, Antroi, Chilyavant, Koliyathar, Bhipur, Khasra, Lehvant, Nakamli, Padliya, Padarvant, Raisinghpur, Surkheda, Dadigam, Jer, Hansot, Diwant, Dhamodi villages. 32 dolomite stone mines have been running continuously for 65 years. 32 stone mines provide raw material to factories. Due to cancellation of Environment-EC certificate, mine owners have been forced to close their mines. 125 factories that grind stone and make powder have stopped getting raw material. The reason is 25 small and 6 big stone mines. Environmental certificate was given by the district headquarters in the year 2017/18. Which was canceled by NGT National Green Tribunal in the year 2023. The state’s Mines and Minerals Department had ordered to issue environmental certificate. Despite having private roads leading to the mine, permits have been canceled citing roads. New certificates have been rejected due to the road in 2023. According to the rule, if the EC is canceled, the mines have to be closed. There were no roads for years. Roads have been built in their place. The government has objections to this. It will be restarted after the new EC order comes from the government.
City closed
Chhotaudepur was kept strictly closed in protest against the decision of Bhupendra Patel’s government. A silent rally was taken out in protest against the government’s decision. Along with closing shops, employment businesses, all the industrialists voluntarily closed their factories and factories to register protest against the BJP government. An application was given to the Resident Collector. Since the industry may be dead, a decision has been taken and a demand has been made to resume mining as soon as possible.
Employment
The main employment providing business has closed. People of 70 villages are getting employment from this area. About 20 to 25 thousand workers are likely to lose their jobs and businesses. Dolomite is the only means of employment in an area of 100 km. There are 30 thousand jobs. There are 600 transport workers.
Recession
Recession has been going on for many years. Due to recession, there is no demand for stone. Money for the sold stone does not come on time. Due to which it is becoming difficult to meet the daily expenses of running the mine.
Mining stopped during monsoon
Work in the mine stops after the rains from June. The quantity used by dolomite processing units till December is stored before June. It has become difficult to stock dolomite stone. The business of traders is likely to come to a standstill, so there will be recession.
Use
Its powder is always used in ceramic factories, detergent powder factories, paints, medicines, steel, chemical industry, metallurgy, glass, cement and other areas. It is used in architectural decoration, sculpture, handicrafts.
Business
Gujarat has a reserve of 7,200 lakh tonnes of dolomite mineral.
Earlier, 12 factories were allowed to grind dolomite. In 2003-2004, the production was 3,14,105 metric tonnes. Which is estimated to be 4 lakh tonnes after 20 years. There is a wage of 600 crores and the price of stone is 20 crores. This industry is a labor-intensive industry. The price of stone is Rs 370 per tonne which had increased to Rs 450 a year ago. Due to the strike, the mill business is incurring a loss of Rs 60 lakhs daily. 300 trucks are running. 6,000 tonnes of goods are produced daily. The government gets a royalty of Rs 5 lakh daily. GST of Rs 4.50 lakh daily. Electricity bill of Rs 3 crore per month. There is an investment of Rs 2 crore per factory. Dolomite powder business is done in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh. Dolomite industry will keep going to other states.
Organization
Chhota Udaipur Vyapari Sangh, Mines Sangh, Mineral Traders Association, Transport Association, Small Industries Traders Association have announced a shutdown. The President of Chhota Udaipur Mines Association is Mohammad Yusuf Mala, Vice President of Mineral Traders Association is Vitthal Patel, General Secretary is Ramakant Dhobi. The President of Chhota Udaipur Transport Association is Kanu Gadhvi.
First strike
A year ago, a strike was organized by closing the business. They were protesting against the installation of GPS on vehicles. They have gone on an indefinite strike in protest against the increase in the price of dolomite.
Leadership
Minister in charge of Chhota Udaipur district Bhikhu Parmar, MP Jashu Rathwa, will meet the Chief Minister along with the MLA. Mohan Singh Rathwa was honored as the best MLA and mines have been closed in his area. He has been the Leader of the Opposition. Halol, Chhota Udaipur, Jetpur, Sankheda, Dabhoi, Padra and Nandod are the seven assembly constituencies.
Illegal mining
Illegal mining of dolomite stone in many places
Mining is done. Illegal minerals were extracted in dolomite stone mines in Kanavant and Dari villages. Goods worth Rs 2 crore were seized in February 2025. 20 vehicles were seized.
Dolomite mines are exploited very little.
What is dolomite?
Dolomite is a double carbonate of calcium and magnesium. It usually contains impurities of silica, alumina and iron oxide. The total amount of all impurities for commercial use should not exceed 7%. Therefore, if there are more impurities, it is not suitable for industrial use.
Minerals such as chalk, lime, limestone, pyrite, sulfur, magnesite, dolomite, epsomite are used for sulfate fertilizers. Dolomite is not a stone. Dolomite is a mineral. Dolomite is a sedimentary rock composed of dolomite minerals. It often coexists with rocks such as limestone and shale.
It has a specific chemical composition and crystal structure. Dolostone contains dolomite, which is a sedimentary rock. It is white, off-white or pale yellow in colour. It can be light brown or pink if it contains iron. Pure dolomite is colourless and transparent. It has a glassy or silky lustre.
The dolomite powder is pressed into spherical shapes by adding a binder, which is easy to transport and use. (Google translation from Gujarati)
