Odisha To Soon Formulate Gem Stone Policy

21 January, Bhubaneswar

The Odisha government is considering to formulate a policy to bring unorganised gemstone mining sector under government regulation, Odisha Minister for Steel and Mines Prafulla Mallick said here Wednesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a workshop on gems stone, the Minister said the draft of the policy is likely to be ready by March next.

The Minister hoped that the policy would help to check illegal transportation of gemstone to other states and help Odisha to get more revenue and create more employment. Mallik said Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts of the state have gemstone deposits but Odisha is not getting any revenue from it.

He said the state would get around Rs 50 to 60 crore if the gem stone mines were leased out as per the policy.

The gemstones has high demand outside the country and could also fetch foreign currency for the country and the state, the Minister said. BM