Tamil Nadu’s stone quarry sector is facing fresh pressure after the state government imposed a temporary three-month ban on transporting mineral materials to neighbouring states. The restriction, in force from July 9 to October 9, has limited outward movement of stone and led several quarries to scale down production.
Industry representatives say the number of operating quarries has fallen sharply from earlier levels of over 3,000, citing delays in obtaining environmental quality-related clearances, penalties and other compliance issues. With only a few hundred quarries said to be functioning now, they claim even local supply has been affected due to inadequate stock.
While the government has been cited as saying the temporary ban is meant to assess how much stone is being extracted and processed, quarry owners allege it is also linked to plans to increase state revenue. They say operators are being penalised heavily, including for stone extracted years ago, and that ongoing court cases add to uncertainty.
Owners also raised concerns about the shift to a “transit pass” system for selling crushed stone, arguing it creates time-bound pressure to dispose of material. They say environmental approvals from the State-level authority can take more than a year, leaving businesses unable to start operations after paying large sums for leases, and claim more than 500 quarries are awaiting clearance.
At a meeting in Chennai on September 22, Mineral Resources Minister Prabhu and senior officials held talks with the Tamil Nadu Stone Quarry Owners Association. The association said it sought relief through a one-time settlement mechanism for penalties and urged the government to streamline no-objection requirements and avoid denying approvals due to new developments near existing quarries. In a petition to the department commissioner, owners warned that under the current conditions many are not inclined to continue the business and asked the government to ensure uninterrupted, affordable supply of jelly and M-sand for construction work.
