Kozhikode | Jan 02, 2017:

The ban on clay mining by the Mining and Geology Department is threatening to wipe out the tile manufacturing industry in Kozhikode district. Seven out of the nine major tile factories in Feroke have laid off workers owing to scarcity of clay caused by the ban.

Two tile units are now partly functioning with limited stock of clay, which had been brought from Karnataka. The units too are likely to resort to layoffs soon. Paying Rs.40,000 for around 25 tonnes of clay from Karnataka is uneconomical for majority of factory owners as they claim that Feroke and its surrounding areas have plenty of quality clay deposit that can be tapped legally to resolve the crisis. “Within a 24-kilometre radius, it is possible to find the raw material rather than desperately waiting for the overpriced Karnataka stock,” they add. Highlighting the demand, the All Kerala Tile Manufacturers’ Federation will take out a march to the collectorate on January 10.

Their representatives will also meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other Ministers soon to find out a viable solution and protect the industry from sudden extinction. “On several occasions, we have taken up the issue with Ministers and various government departments.

The Mining and Geology Department is not even looking at the possibility of an environment-friendly clay mining in the area,” says M.A. Abdurahiman, State general secretary of All Kerala Tile Manufacturers’ Federation.

He points out that Kozhikode’s tile industry, which once employed more than 3,000 labourers, now has only one-third of its previous strength. Most casual labourers in the industry have lost their jobs. Factory owners say that demonetisation curbs have severely affected sales and doused the spirit of local buyers. Most local retailers are now after the trade of imported ceramic tiles expecting better margin, which will put the last nail on the native industry, they say.

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)