This PSU has resumed diamond mining after green signal from forest

• NMDC resumes diamond mining in Panna after a green signal from the forest department

• Diamond mining halted in the area after the forest clearance to NMDC expired on December 31, 2020

Panna: NMDC has resumed diamond mining in Panna after brief halt since 31 December 2020 till January 5. Madhya Pradesh forest department has clearance to the mining PSU National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) to resume operation of its diamond mine at Majhgawan in Panna district of Bundelkhand region. Diamond mining was halted as the forest department clearance had been ceased on December 31.

On January 4 principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF), wildlife, Alok Kumar in a letter written to field director of Panna Tiger Reserve said, "The operation of diamond mine of National Mineral Development Corporation, spread in the area of 74 hectares in the forest area of Gangau sanctuary of Panna, has continued for the past 50 years. The state government has extended the lease for the next 20 years and the matter of renewal of lease is pending before the State Wildlife Board and National Wildlife Board. In the case of no new mining operation and no adverse impact on wildlife, the existing operation should be resumed till the clearance from the wildlife board."

Panna Tiger Reserve field director UK Sharma has responded, "The order to resume the operation of the mine has been released for the existing mining operation."

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Diamond mining in India

NMDC is the only organised producer of diamond in India from its Majhgawan mine at Panna, Madhya Pradesh and continues to carry on the legend and past glory through its untiring efforts. The mining capacity of the PSU in the region is currently 84,000 carats per year. On its website, NMDC says that approximately 1005064 carats diamonds have been recovered from diamond mining in the region so far.

India was the only source of diamonds in the world for over 3000 years till diamond deposits were located in Brazil and South Africa.

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