State-run navratna National Mineral Development Corporation?s (NMDC?s) application for prospecting licence (PL) for diamond mining in Itwan, Panna, Madhya Pradesh has got the central government nod. The area is spread across 2,314.38 hectare of land.

The company has also been granted mineral concession in Sarangpur, Panna, for prospecting of diamond. The land involved is 194.73 hectare. The approvals come as a shot in the arm for the company as its diamond mining activities at Panna, the countries only diamond mine, is being revived after receiving permissions from the Supreme Court to reopen the mines after two years of ban. The plant operations were suspended as directed by the central empowered committee constituted by the Supreme Court and there was no production of diamonds from April 19, 2006. Also in the list of mineral concession approvals granted by central government, BHP Khanij Anveshan Ltd has bagged reconnaissance permit (RP) for diamond, gold and associated minerals in Bellary, Hassan and Raichur in Karnataka. The land involved is 1,077 sq km, 1,538 sq km and 2,120 sq km respectively.

The much delayed application by De Beers India Prospecting Pvt Ltd, the Indian arm of the South African major, for diamond mining in Gumla, Jharkhand, has been given the nod for reconnaissance work. In early 2003, De Beers had conducted preliminary surveys to identify fields in Gumla, Lohardaga and the banks of the Sankh river where there could be a possibility of diamonds. After identifying the prospective areas, the company submitted a detailed proposal to the government which was forwarded to the Centre for clearance in 2004.

The company had planned to spend Rs 100 crore on air-borne geo-physical surveys, said company officials. De Beers has been engaged in carrying out surveys in both Orissa and Chhattisgarh besides several other states. Anglo American Exploration India Pvt Ltd has bagged the RP across two lands strips of 583 sq km and 574 sq km in Bhilwara, Rajasthan for mining of Lead and Zinc. Aditya Birla Group?s Ultra Tech Cements Ltd has been awarded the mining lease for limestone mining across 928.7 hectares of land in Gudipodu, Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh.

For FY09 the central government has so far granted 108 mineral concessions to different stakeholders.