Work Resumes at India's Only Industrial Diamond Mine
January 11, 21
(IDEX Online) - India's only industrial diamond has resumed operations, days after work was halted because of environmental concerns.
Mining at the Majhgawan mine (pictured), near the town of Panna, in Madhya Pradesh, has been stopped several times over the last 50 years because of concerns by the National Wildlife Board.
The mine, estimated to have reserves of 34m carats, is close to the Panna Tiger Reserve.
The state government said it had extended the lease for the next 20 years. The previous lease expired on 31 December 2020.
There are around 1,000 licensed artisanal mines in the area, and many more that operate illegally. Majhgawan is the only mine run on industrial scale.