Bhopal: State-owned NMDC is planning to extract 6,500 carats of diamonds, valued at approximately $3.4 million, from its Panna mine in Madhya Pradesh this fiscal year. The mine, situated near a tiger reserve, had faced significant delays in securing environmental clearances, leading to a halt in operations for over three years.

The Supreme Court eventually granted NMDC permission to resume mining, provided certain guidelines were followed. This decision allowed the company to recommence its activities, focusing initially on extracting and processing diamonds from existing ore stockpiles at the Panna site.

Since the resumption of operations, NMDC has extracted diamonds amounting to 3,700 carats, with an estimated value of $1.93 million. The Panna mine, covering 275.96 hectares (681.91 acres), began operations in the early 1970s and remains the only mechanised diamond mine in India.

Madhya Pradesh is one of Asia's prominent diamond mining regions, and the renewed activity at the Panna mine is expected to contribute significantly to the sector. NMDC's efforts come as part of broader initiatives to enhance the country's diamond production capabilities while adhering to environmental and legal mandates.

BI Bureau