Jamshedpur: Illegal diamond and Panna mining continue unabated in the state of Jharkhand even as the officials concerned look the other way. About 50 km away from Jamshedpur, in the Naxal-hit regions of Dumria, Gudabandha and Musabani, diamond deposits can be found in the forests.
The practice has been continuing under the nose of the government and the district administration officials with sources claiming that the state government loses its big part of revenue owing to this.
Local AIMIM leader Riyad Ahmad Shareef told ETV Bharat, "Ilegal mining of diamonds and Panna has been going for a long time in Gudabandha and Dumria districts. The previous state governments had attempted to curb this but it is still rampant today. The Central and the state government has to suffer huge losses because of this practice. Steps must be taken to halt this and lease mining should be brought in by the government."
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A 2012 mining survey suggests that despite many companies offering for the mining operations project in the Singhbhumbi area, which is spread across 4000 acres, there was no outcome. It is alleged that the Naxals in nexus with the district and police officials have been carrying out the illegal mining of diamonds. The expensive diamonds are also smuggled to nearby states like West Bengal and Odisha.
Vice-President of Rahat Hussain said that naxals go deep inside the caves to get the diamonds which are sold at higher prices to traders in Delhi and Rajasthan.
Former Singhbhumbi SP Subashchandra Jatt admitted that the diamonds are being smuggled from the area to other states and he said that he will contact the forest and environment officers. He said that it is a matter of grave concern and police officers, district administration and forest dept must be informed on the same following which action will be initiated.
In September, the Jharkhand govt had rejected the Centre's proposal to change the definition of illegal mining under the mining law, stating that any drastic alterations could adversely impact the state's economy and the industrial climate.
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