Dungarpur : Dungarpur District situated in Dakshinanchal of the state also has its reputation as a soap stone of excellent quality. There was a time when the soap stone extracted from the mines here was the first choice of the entrepreneurs of Gujarat and the soap stone from here, passing through Gujarat, ruled the entire country. Due to this, the government was also getting royalties worth billions and trillions of rupees every year. But, the situation has changed in the last seven-eight years. The dream of setting up units related to products made from mineral products here is proving to be a far-fetched dream. On the contrary, more than 90 percent of the soap-stone mines located in the district are closed and a few mines are operational, but they are also on the verge of closure due to ventilators. Under the Apna Khanij-Apna Udyog campaign, the problems being faced by industries in the tribal areas will be highlighted.
Most of the soap-stan mines in Dungarpur are in Dungarpur, Aspur and Bichiwada areas. Among these, soap-stone is found in abundance in areas like Deval, Jhakol, Thana, Rohanwada, Piplada, Sabli, Munged, Padra, Amjhara, Parsola, Bharkundi Sarkan, Surata ki Pal, Devpur, Patanpura, Solaj etc. The soap stone obtained from here is going to the industrial units of Gujarat and especially Morbi and the soap stone obtained from here is used in making soap, insecticides, cosmetic materials like face powder, finishing in steel plants etc. It happens.
Royalty rates have broken the back
Till about a decade ago, there were about 80 to 90 soap-stone mines in Dungarpur district and about 50 to 70 workers were employed in each mine. But, mineral owners say that the increase in royalty rates by the state government, 18 percent GST, sale value tax etc. have broken the back of this enterprise and the current situation is such that more than 90 percent of the mines in the district are closed. According to the Mineral Department, at present only 28 mines are given on lease in three blocks of Aspur, Dungarpur and Bichhiwara in the district and their mining work is done in an area of 900 hectares. However, the ground situation is such that even at the allotted mines, machines and mining work has stopped. Mine owners say that cutting royalty rates is very important. Industries will flourish only if the rate is reduced.
