De Beers goes for AP diamonds

Hyderabad: Diamond giant De Beers has applied for a prospecting licence in four mandals of Mahbubnagar district from the state mines department, after it discovered 22 kimberlites, or diamond-bearing lines of rock. The reconnaissance permits given to De Beers in 2009 in Mahbubnagar, including forest areas, had recently expired.

Despite resistance from the Chenchu tribals, De Beers is going ahead with the prospecting stating that “testing of priority pipes for diamond potential is underway”.

Next: De Beers waiting for NoC

De Beers waiting for NoC

Hyderabad: Director of mines and geology B.R.V. Susheel Kumar, said, “De Beers had applied for the PL recently and we are waiting for no-objection certificates from revenue authorities. There is no forest land in the area in which they have applied. De Beers had reconnaissance permits for over 6,000 sq. kilometres earlier. After the PL, the next step is a mining lease.”

The reconnaissance permit had been granted for the purpose of undertaking operations for preliminary prospecting through regional, aerial, geophysical or geochemical surveys and geological mapping.

It does not include pitting, trenching, drilling or sub-surface excavation. A prospecting licence is granted for the purpose of undertaking prospecting operations for the purpose of exploring, locating or proving mineral deposits.

De Beers, in its operating and financial review stated: “Early-stage geological modelling, terrain mapping and reconnaissance sampling continued in 2012. In the Mahbubnagar licence area, further discoveries brought the portfolio to 22 kimberlites, and testing of priority pipes for diamond potential is underway.

The Mahbubnagar reconnaissance permit period expired during the year; however, application is underway for the prospecting licence and a number of other reconnaissance permit applications remain pending.”

Initially, the reconnaissance permits included 130 square kilometre of forest area of Nallamala. Tribals and locals, fearing loss of their livelihoods and habitat, had protested against mining by MNCs.

Mahbubnagar collector M. Girija Shankar said, “We have received applications from De Beers for a prospecting licence and the same is pending with revenue officers of four mandals for no-objection certificates.”