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‘Jammu Sapphire’ becomes a crowd-puller at J&K pavilion in international trade fair
Secretary, mining department, Amit Sharma came up with the idea to display ‘Jammu Sapphire’, a precious gem of world-class quality, says a press statement
A gem from Kishtwar’s Padder mines, ‘Jammu Sapphire’ has become a star attraction among visitors thronging J&K pavilion at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) going on in New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan.
Secretary, mining department, Amit Sharma came up with the idea to display ‘Jammu Sapphire’, a precious gem of world-class quality, at the event, a press statement by the information and public relations of the Jammu and Kashmir administration stated.
J&K minerals corporation led by managing director Vikram K Gupta took the initiative to put up a stall in J&K pavilion with a live display of originally extracted ‘Jammu Sapphire’, said a spokesperson.
J&K chief secretary Arun K Mehta along with other heads of department and dignitaries had on Wednesday visited the stall and appreciated the innovative efforts of mining department.
Mehta said all efforts should be made to polish and make value addition in the sapphire stones inside J&K only so that the minerals corporation can fetch maximum value of available gems during the upcoming auction.
An LED-based screen display of live extraction of rare gem from Padder hills, apart from literature, is helping in marketing and branding of ‘Jammu Sapphire’ during the ongoing IITF in a big way, the press statement said.
J&K minerals corporation also offered to help genuine buyers to have a detailed look at the extracted sapphire stones once the IITF gets over after due verification. The geographical indication (GI) tagging of this precious gem of Jammu division will also be done, the press statement added.
Sharma said as per the broader vision of J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited will begin detailed scientific exploration of Padder mines so that proper assessment of its quality and quantity can be done in J&K.
