📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ramesh Lalwani
Business
Bastar district revives corundum mining after 25 years, targets branded gem market
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 02 Sep 2026, 03:37 AM
👁 21
After a quarter‑century hiatus, corundum extraction has restarted in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, with plans to supply the high‑end gemstone market.
Corundum mining, which has been dormant in Bastar district for 25 years, has been officially restarted following clearances from the Chhattisgarh state government. The revival is being led by a consortium of local mining firms that have secured leases for the historic deposits near the Kanker‑Bastar border.
State officials say the renewed operations are aimed at tapping the growing demand for premium gemstones, especially in branded jewelry segments. By focusing on quality grading and traceable supply chains, the producers hope to position Indian‑sourced corundum alongside established international brands.
The government anticipates that the project will generate direct employment for the local tribal population and stimulate ancillary services such as transport, processing and gem‑cutting workshops. While commercial volumes are yet to be disclosed, the initiative marks a strategic shift toward value‑added mineral exports from the region.
State officials say the renewed operations are aimed at tapping the growing demand for premium gemstones, especially in branded jewelry segments. By focusing on quality grading and traceable supply chains, the producers hope to position Indian‑sourced corundum alongside established international brands.
The government anticipates that the project will generate direct employment for the local tribal population and stimulate ancillary services such as transport, processing and gem‑cutting workshops. While commercial volumes are yet to be disclosed, the initiative marks a strategic shift toward value‑added mineral exports from the region.