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| JK has Sapphire worth Rs 1 billion in its bosom | | |
Sikander Khan
Jammu, Dec 27: Besides being an all season tourist destination, Jammu Kashmir has tremendous mineral reserves in its bosom. The state’s Sapphire outshines even diamond and is considered the best in the world. But notwithstanding its massive reserves, the state tragically is not even in a position to give salary to its employees and every time the government has to approach New Delhi with a begging bowl.
On May 19, 2004, when a single Sapphire from the state was sold for $1.50 M at Geneva, all those who believed the state could not survive without financial help from New Delhi were forced to eat a humble pie. The Sapphire was smuggled out of the state via Jaipur-Mumbai- Bangkok-London and Geneva.
According to Abdul Majid Bhat, former General Manager JK Minerals who is a world-renowned Sapphire specialist, the state’s Sapphire is perceptible on account of its peacock neck bluish colour that provides it monopoly among other Sapphires of the world.
The Sapphire mines are situated at an altitude of 4742 meters above sea level at Paddar, Kishtwar. Stretched along an area of 116 km, the mines contain Sapphire worth Rs 700 crores. The National Remote Sensing Agency (NASA) Hyderabad conducted satellite imagery a few years ago and confirmed Sapphire reserves worth Rs 1 billion.
Selling the Sapphire has always been a problem for the concerned department. According to reports, not a single gem has been sold during the past eight years notwithstanding the hectic efforts of the department in this regard. Tenders are sought almost every year but till date the gems have not been sold. The JK Minerals has been paying a huge sum on preservation and security of the gems for the past six years and the officials fear that the costs incurred on security and maintenance have exceeded the actual cost of the gems.
Mining experts criticize the mode of operations of the concerned department. “The process has to be completed between July 1 to September 10. The concerned department undertakes mining but defers collection of the precious stones for unknown reasons. They expose the gems and leave. The precious stones are later collected by the smugglers who dare the inclement weather and the difficult terrain”, they said.
Economic experts have suggested handover of the mines to private firms. Privatization of the mines, according to them, is the only alternative to exploit the reserves effectively.
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