(a) whether the Government is laying special emphasis on extraction/ exploration of diamond and
gold so as to reduce its import;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the quantum of diamond and gold imported into and produced in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise, mineral-wise;
(d) the number of employees working in the Panna diamond and Gold mine in 2008; and
(e) the number of employees granted voluntary scheme?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS AND MINISTRY OF MINES
(SHRI B.K. HANDIQUE)
(a)&(b): Mining of minerals depends broadly on availability of mineral resources, economic
viability, demand of the market etc. The Central Government has enunciated the new National
Mineral Policy, 2008 which envisages streamlining and simplifying the procedures in grant of
mineral concessions in order to attract investment into mining sector.
(c) : As per available information, data on import of diamond and gold from the year 2004-05
to 2006-07 are given below:
Super Group Commodity Name & Unit 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 (P) Commodity Name
Diamond Diamond (Industrial) (Carat) 14705 12244 4503
Diamond(Mostly cut) (Carat) 138786704 124743440 119625535
Diamond Powder (Thousand Carat)27372 47795 56848 Gold KG 782864 723780 725817
State wise production of gold is given below:
(in Tonnes) State 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 (upto August) (Revised) (Provisional) (Provisional)
Karnataka 2.846 2.334 2.831 1.162 Jharkhand 0.201 0.154 0.027 0.008 Gujarat 6.710 10.335 9.135 2.571 (as by product) Total 9.757 12.823 11.993 3.741
(in carats) State 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09(upto September) (provisional) (provisional)
Madhya Pradesh 44170 2179 586 367