Bengaluru: Tile factories in coastal Karnataka, many dating back to the 1800s and shaped by German missionary influence, are staring at an uncertain future, with restrictions on clay extraction emerging as the biggest challenge. Data from the department of small scale industries show a sharp decline across districts. In Dakshina Kannada, only eight of 27 established factories remain operational. Uttara Kannada has seen all its 16 factories shut down, while in Udupi, just 10 of the 32 units continue to function. Small scale industries minister Sharanabasappa Darshanapur told the legislative council earlier this week that there are no incentives to revive existing units. He was responding to BJP’s Pratap Simha Nayak, who flagged the collapse of the industry. Members of families running legacy units said German missionaries introduced tile-making technology to generate employment for converts. A descendant of the 1865 Basel tile factory said the Great Depression of 1929 led to the collapse of the first unit in Mangaluru. “Tiles were exported to Europe, but payment never arrived,” the family member said, adding that the factory later changed hands. Historians point to the Basel Mission’s role in industrialising the region. “It established a commission in 1854 to set up industries,” said Dr Peter Wilson Prabhakar, former principal, Vivekananda College, Puttur. “The first tile factory began operations in Jeppu, Mangaluru, in 1865 under the supervision of missionary George Plebst.” George Albuquerque Pai, president, Western India Tile Manufacturers Association, said, “Clay in Mangaluru was good. Three years after them, my great-grandfather started the factory in 1868. Mangaluru once had 35 tile factories.” While some units modernised over time, adding products such as jaalis and floor tiles, many shut down. Industry representatives say sourcing clay remains the core issue. “Even though we source it from private land, there are many restrictions. The govt can earn royalty; it must hear our solutions. An old notification allowed lump-sum payment on the basis of production; for instance, we could explore that,” Pai said.
