Ongole: Coronavirus hits granite industry

Ongole: Coronavirus, which has become pandemic in China, has hit hard Galaxy granite industry in Chimakurthy in Prakasam district. China is the major importer of granite.

Chimakurthy, Ramatheertham and surrounding areas in the district are home to more than 40 granite quarries. They are providing direct employment to about 10,000 workers and indirect employment to more than 50,000 in the associated industries.

China imports nearly 90 percent of the 20,000 plus cubic metres of the granite stone quarried every month from the district. The industries dependent on the Galaxy granite in China employed about 150 markers for identifying the stone as per the required quality, colour and pattern at various quarries and order on behalf of them and they travel between China and India regularly.

Since the novel Coronavirus epidemic broke out in China, the markers are not able to visit the country because of restrictions and make any order for the last one month.

M A Azeem, general secretary of the Chimakurthy Galaxy Granite Owners Association, said the business has suffered as the markers and merchants are conspicuous by their absence. He said the amount of stone quarried has decreased.

As the Coronavirus is spreading to other countries, the granite companies are keeping their fingers crossed.

The organisers of the STONA 2020, the 14th International Granite and Stone Fair, scheduled to be held from February 6 to 9 in Bengaluru, have decided to go ahead with the programme as the arrangements and reservations have already been done.

However, the 20th China Xiamen International Stone Fair, scheduled to take place from March 16 to 19, has been rescheduled to June 6 to 9, and is expected to postpone further depending on success of the efforts to curb Coronavirus in China and other countries.