Products of Decorative and Dimensional stone plant at Wazeho in Meluri Sub Division of Phek District. (Morung Photo/Chizokho Vero)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 2
According to Nagaland State Mineral Development Limited, ‘stone’, one of the rich resources of the state in terms of quantity, quality and variety, is proposed to be exploited to its full potential for use as locally available and durable raw material in the building and housing sector. Some deposits which are abundantly available are marble, gabbro, spilite, sandstone, slate etc.
The Decorative & Dimensional Stone Plant (DDSP) at Wazeho in Meluri Sub Division of Phek district, under the banner of the NSMDC and sponsored by North East Council was made operational since August 2001. According to official source, the plant has a production capacity of 200 sq.ft of stone slabs in a day. The plant at Wazeho process marbles and the products are in the form of slabs, blocks, cladding, artifacts and monoliths. Similar plant at Chumukedima process sandstones with a production capacity of 200 sq.ft. per day.
“People Development Programme” (PDP) under Self Employment Generation Scheme which aims to promote and facilitate setting up of small scale units of decorative and dimensional plants and stone crushers by private entrepreneurs based on local stone deposit, which is proposed to be continued during 11th Five Year Plan. Source said preparatory ground works have already been started with the help of experts/consultants of stone industry from Rajasthan, adding that project reports have been drawn up for different stone units as deemed suited to the local deposits.
Financing will be done through and with collateral guarantee of the village councils/village development boards as is being done in case of the Canadian aided NEPED schemes. This scheme has the potential to bring about a revolution by helping local unemployed youth and bringing economic self reliance to the people, source added.
