Odisha to revise policy to tap gemstone mining

State hopes to mop up Rs 50-60 crore every year from the sector every year

The state government is going to fine-tune its existing policy to tap the unorganised gemstone sector where the government is losing substantial revenue due to lack of a suitable policy.

"We have gemstone deposits in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts. In the absence of a policy to regulate the sector, we are not getting any revenue from the deposits. To tap this sector, we are aiming to bring a revised policy, the draft of which is expected to be ready by March this year", state steel & mines minister Prafulla Mallick said on the sidelines of a workshop here.

The minister said the state government hopes to mop up Rs 50-60 crore every year from gemstone mining every year.

He raised concern over the rampant and illegal transportation of gemstones to other states. Our policy would help curb such illegal activities, Mallick said.

The existing Odisha Gemstone Policy 1998 needs to be revised to make it more convenient for promotion of gemstone exploration, mining, processing and trading activities in the state for overall sustainable development of gemstone resources.

The state directorate of geology has been providing the service of commercial gem testing in its laboratory. As many as 3459 samples were analysed during 2014-15. The laboratory is also engaged in characterisation and identification of samples of precious and semi-precious stones seized from clandestine operators.