Tamil Nadu Bans Rough Stone Exports for 3 Months; Lorry Owners Hail Move

The Tamil Nadu government has imposed a three-month ban on the transportation of rough stones and their aggregates to other states, a move that has been welcomed by the Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Federation (TNSLOF). The ban, effective from July 27, 2026, covers materials such as khandas, boulders, M-sand, metal jelly, ballasts, mill stones, hand chakais, and construction stones.

TNSLOF president Sella Rajamani thanked Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay for fulfilling a long-standing demand. He noted that about 80% of aggregates quarried in Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari districts are transported to Kerala, while aggregates from Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts go to Karnataka. This, he said, has caused environmental damage and significant revenue loss for the state government. Additionally, overloading of lorries has led to accidents and road damage in villages.

Rajamani recalled that during previous AIADMK and DMK administrations, multiple protests were held to ban the export of rough stones, but no action was taken. The federation recently submitted its demands to the Chief Minister and the concerned minister, leading to the temporary ban. He urged the government to make the ban permanent, stating that while 1,000 lorries transport rough stones daily, only 200 have required permits. A permanent ban, he argued, would increase government revenue and reduce prices of M-sand and other construction materials.

The federation plans to meet the Chief Minister, Natural Resources Minister, and officials to express gratitude and reiterate the demand for a permanent ban. Rajamani also welcomed the government's decision to open six new sand quarries, which had been another demand of the federation.

The state government has not yet commented on whether the ban will be extended beyond three months. The decision comes amid growing concerns over illegal mining and environmental degradation in stone quarrying regions.