Bundelkhand labourer finds diamond worth ₹30 lakh

Prakash Sharma who happens to be marginal farmer found the diamond of 12.58 carat in the leased land near his village Janakpur under Sarkoha mining area

A labourer in Panna district, 413 kilometers north of Bhopal, in Bundelkhand region has become a millionaire as he found a diamond in his leased land in diamond mining area in the district a couple of days back. The diamond is valued at about ₹30 lakh, said a department of mineral resources official.

Bundelkhand labourer Prakash with diamond that he found in leased land in diamond mining area of Panna district (HT Photo)

According to Panna district diamond mining officer Santosh Singh, Prakash Sharma who happens to be marginal farmer, found the diamond of 12.58 carat in the leased land near his village Janakpur under Sarkoha mining area.

“The diamond has been deposited in our office. Its quality is good. According to our gem expert the diamond’s starting price can be around ₹30 lakh. The price can go up further during the auction of the same to be done the next month”, he said.

Visibly happy Prakash Sharma told media persons that he was overjoyed. He had taken a 25×25 feet land on lease and he had been digging it for the past two years to find a diamond. “I didn’t engage local labourers as I couldn’t afford it. I will invest the money once I get it in business and farming”, he added.

According to the mining officer, 11% of the amount to get on auction of diamond would go to the state government.