Labourer finds diamond worth Rs 80 lakh from Madhya Pradesh's Panna mine

Panna, July 25

A labourer found a 19.22-carat diamond in a mine in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district on Wednesday which could fetch about Rs 80 lakh or more at the government auction, officials said.

Raju Gaud said when he set out in the morning to dig mud and sift through it, a daily routine in monsoon months for the past 10 years, he hadn’t imagined he would strike a fortune.

“I hope the amount earned (after the auction) will reduce my financial hardships and take care of my children’s education,” Gaud said.

The labourer said he exulted after finding the precious stone in the leased mine at Krishna Kalyanpur and promptly deposited it with the government authorities.

The gem-quality diamond will be put for sale in the next auction, said Anupam Singh, an official from the Panna diamond office.

District Collector Suresh Kumar said the 19.22-carat diamond Gaud uncovered in a shallow mine could fetch Rs 80 lakh or more in the auction.

The gemstone would be put up for open bidding at the next diamond auction, the collector said.

Gaud said he drove a tractor earlier and his family earned a livelihood from labour work.

He has been taking small mines on lease during the rains for the past 10 years in the hope of getting lucky some day.

Gaud said he took the mine, where he found the diamond, on lease about two months ago. “I have deposited it at the Government Diamond Office. I’ll spend the money on my children’s education and buy farmland,” he said.

Officials said the raw diamond would be auctioned and the proceeds given to the labourer after deducting government royalty and taxes.

The Panna district, located in MP’s Bundelkhand region, is estimated to have diamond reserves of 12 lakh carat.