Tamil Nadu Imposes Three-Month Export Ban on Rough Stones and Construction Aggregates
The Tamil Nadu government has enacted a 90-day moratorium on transporting construction minerals to neighboring states. Industry leaders praise the move as a long-awaited measure to curb illegal mining and stabilize domestic supply.
State Enacts 90-Day Suspension on Mineral Exports
The Tamil Nadu government issued a Government Order on Monday, July 27, 2026, prohibiting the movement of rough stones and their aggregates to other states for a duration of three months. This restriction covers a broad range of materials, including khandas, boulders, M-sand, metal jelly, ballasts, and mill stones. The ban also extends to hand chakais and stones specifically intended for building and road infrastructure.
Lorry Federation Highlights Revenue and Infrastructure Loss
Sella. Rajamani, president of the Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Federation (TNSLOF), expressed public support for the decision on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. According to federation data, approximately 80% of aggregates extracted from the southern districts of Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari are consistently diverted to Kerala. Similar patterns of mineral outflow occur from Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri toward Karnataka.
Rajamani highlighted a significant disparity in legal compliance during these transfers. While an estimated 1,000 trucks transport these materials across state lines daily, only 200 operate with valid permits. This unregulated traffic has led to several systemic issues:
- Diminished government revenue due to illicit border crossings.
- Environmental degradation in extraction zones.
- Accelerated damage to village roads caused by overloaded vehicles.
- Increased frequency of transport-related accidents.
Calls for Permanent Policy Shifts
The TNSLOF noted that despite years of demonstrations during previous AIADMK and DMK administrations, this is the first definitive action taken by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to address their grievances. The federation argues that local materials should be reserved for construction projects within Tamil Nadu to control the rising costs of M-sand and stone aggregates.
Beyond the current three-month window, industry representatives are lobbying the government and the Natural Resources Minister to make the export ban permanent. In addition to the transport restrictions, the federation welcomed news regarding the imminent opening of six new sand quarries, which they believe will further stabilize the state's resource management.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
