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| A diamond rush, illegal brush! | | Illegal mining continues in Chhattisgarh | |
EARLY TIMES DELHI BUREAU
NEW DELHI, AUG. 3: The 'diamond lands' in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh State are in the news. A report just made public by CNN-IBN television network says that everyday sacks are filled with diamonds fromfields and traken away for washing and extraction. CNN-IBN's special investigation team (SIT) has, at the same time, cautioned: There is one catch to this entire set up. It is all illegal.
The report says: Dig the earth in this Chhattisgarh town and chances are you may just strike diamonds. Predictably, this has led to a diamond rush, where hundreds come every year in the hope of finding diamonds and striking it rich. Pailikhand, Gariaband, Deobhog and Senmora-- the 'diamond lands' in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh-- are witness to open plunder as illegal mining continues with the complete support of local administration.
A member of CNN-IBN's special investigation team posed as a businessman to expose the 'nexus' between the diamond mafia and government officials. CNN-IBN SIT claims to have in its possession, evidence to show that two functionaries of the State government facilitate diamond mining for a price. On CNN-IBN's persuasion, one of the officials agreed to take the SIT to the diamond mines and arrange labourers for the illegal mining. He told the SIT to talk to the local Tehsildar at his residence.
According to CNN-IBN's report, explorations by multinationals like De-Beers and B Vijay Kumar indicate that the area is rich in kimberlite, a diamond ore. Yet these areas are unguarded. The story is of poverty amidst plenty. While those who are into illegal mining have grown rich overnight, those who actually own the fields live in abject poverty.
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