Chhattisgarh News: Corundum mine operation has been restarted in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh after about 25 years. Now instead of being limited to mining only, the government plans to expand the production of corundum. Cutting, Polishing, Jewelery Making, Branding and Marketing Till now the entire value chain has to be prepared. For this purpose, an agreement has been signed between CMDC and Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Raipur in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai. The university will play the role of knowledge partner in this initiative.
Mining started again from February 2025
The mine is being operated through Chhattisgarh Corundum Mines Limited in village Kuchnoor of Bhopalpatnam area of Bijapur. After a gap of about 25 years Corundum will be scientifically excavated here from February 2025. Started again. Chhattisgarh Corundum Mines Limited is a joint venture company of CMDC.
Currently extracted from the mine 240 kg corundum There is storage of. Out of this, 157.643 kg has been transported, which includes 107.989 kg B-grade and 49.654 kg industrial grade corundum.
14 local youth got employment
Due to the operation of Kuchnoor corundum mine in Bijapur district. Employment and self-employment opportunities for 14 local youth Have met. The plan is to further make local youth along with artisans, self-help groups and entrepreneurs a part of economic activities related to corundum.
Cutting-polishing will be taught to the youth
Under the agreement between CMDC and Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University, local youth Gemstone Handling, Gemstone Identification, Cutting and Polishing Training on modern technologies will be provided.
Its objective is not only to prepare the youth for jobs, but also to provide them opportunities to start their own business by giving them skills.
Market will be available under the name of 'Bastar Brand'
High quality corundum from Kuchnur 'Bastar Brand' A plan has been made to connect it to the market. With this, jewelery and gemstone products will be manufactured and branded and marketed.
The government is trying to connect the local arts and crafts of Bastar with the natural mineral wealth here. There are also plans to develop new enterprises with the participation of local units, startups, artisans and investors.
New corundum areas are also being explored
Apart from Kuchnoor, work of identification and exploration of other potential corundum fields is also going on in Bijapur. Further process is being done in different areas including Dhangol.
Along with increasing the state's revenue through transparent auction of excavated corundum. Bastar's corundum gets national and international recognition There is a plan to get it. The government wants to develop this initiative as a complete system from mining to value addition, then to employment and local economic empowerment.