ONE DISTRICT ONE PRODUCT CHIMAKURTHY GALAXY GRANITE

The District is spread over an area of 14,322 km2 (5,530 sq mi) and had a population of 22,88,026 and it is bordered by Bapatla District in the north, Kurnool district in the west, Mahaboobnagar District in the northwest, Potti Sriramulu Nellore and Y.S.R. Kadapa Districts in the south and the Bay of Bengal in the East. Ongole is the District Head Quarters and some of the prominent towns are Kanigiri, Giddaluru, Markapur, Podili. National Highway No.5 connecting Kolkata and Chennai are passing through the District. Two broad gauge railways lines connecting Vijayawada – Guduru and Guntur – Guntakal passing through eastern and western parts of the District respectively.

PRAKASAM DISTRICT CHIMAKURTHY GALAXY GRANITE

ONE DISTRICT ONE PRODUCT CHIMAKURTHY GRANITE (BLACK GALAXY)

CHIMAKURTHY GRANITE: “Galaxy Granite” is unique and world famous which is available only in Andhra Pradesh.

INTRODUCTION:

The world famous Galaxy Granite deposit is located in Chimakurthy, R.L.Puram, Budawada and Devarapalem villages of Chimakurthy Mandal, Prakasam District. The quarry zone lies in between 23rd to 26th KM stone on either side of Ongole – Nandyala State High Way road. The active quarry zone falls in Survey of India Toposheet No. 57 M/14 and lies in between the N15O35I15II – 15O35I20II North latitude and 79O48I20II – 79O50I35II East longitudes.

Geologically the Galaxy Granite body is Norite/Gabbro rock with golden coloured Bronzite specks, belonging to Chimakurthy Anorthosite – Gabbro plutonic complex which intruded in between the older Sargurs and Easternghat mobile belt of Archean age. On cutting and polishing the rock appears as “Star studded sky on moon less night” and due to this peculiar aesthetic property the name Black Galaxy Granite is aptly suitable and it commands good demand in the domestic and international stone market.This Galaxy Granite plays its major role in Mineral Revenue in the District which is about 75% to 80% of the total District Mineral Revenues. There is still scope to develop the exploitation of Galaxy Granite from reserve forest areas. Further, there is also very good scope for establishment of Gang-saw cutting and polishing units in the District for processing the available Granite deposits. It is also desirable to study the feasibility of establishing small scale units to manufacture tiles of 6‛X4‛ from the granite waste which can be used for panelling / cladding purpose.

History & Significance Quarrying Activity at Chimakurthy:

It is submitted that, Quarry Lease was granted in the year 1983 for the 1st time in favour of Sri K. Bala Krishna Reddy, initially he tried to promote the material under the trade name of SHOBHA material, but there was no success. Later on the lease was transferred in favour of M/s. Yak Granite Industries (P) Ltd., and they promoted the material under the Trade name of “Galaxy Granite” and got success. The working activity in this area was started in the year 1987 by M/s. Yak Granite Industries (P) Ltd., (M/s. Enterprising Enterprises of Chennai) and after that market was established in domestic as well as international due to its aesthetic look. At present there are 135 quarry leases existing for Black Galaxy Granite covering a total extent of 452.784 hectares, duly providing employment for about 10,000 members directly and 25,000 members indirectly.