Kota gets plant to manufacture tiles from stone slurry

To deal with the longstanding problem of stone slurry, the city has entered into a venture. The state pollution control board, Rajasthan Industrial Development and Investment Coroporation (RIICO) and Kota Municipal Corporation have jointly established a plant to manufacture tiles and paver blocks from slurry of Kota stone and dust. 

The plant to be formally inaugurated by city collector is first of its kind in the country. However, few more plants are under final stage of development in the city. These plants are based on technology developed by Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee for productive use of stone slurry of Kota stone. 

The technological research was initially funded and later acquired by Rajasthan Pollution Control Board for further distribution. The technique helps to develop a variety of construction blocks, tiles and paver blocks using the stone slurry. 

“We have acquired the technology and we are extending its licence to interested industries without any charge. This shall help to turn the stone slurry from an environmental hazard to productive resource,” said a pollution control board officer. 

The Hadauti region of Rajasthan has been a major supplier of Kota stone that is widely used in construction. There are nearly 750 mines and 5,000 other units based on the stone in the region. It supplies Kota stone of nearly Rs 1,000 crore each year extending employment to over 15,000 people. 

However, the slurry has become a major environment concern.  There is around 25 million tonnes of Kota stone slurry accumulated at 8 dumping areas of Kota and Jahalawar. A million tonnes is added to it each year by nearly 3000 stone cutting units in the districts. 

FIRST OF ITS KIND

The plant is first of its kind in the country. However, few more plants are under final stage of development in the city. They are based on technology developed by Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee.