CM Inaugurates Diamond Sample Processing Plant at Bunder
Bhopal — Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday inaugurated the 33 crore diamond sample processing plant set up at a cost of Rs. 33 crore at Bunder Project site of diamond exploration major Rio Tinto at Buxwaha in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh.
In his address, Chouhan said there are immense possibilities of exploring fine quality diamond in the area which could help ensure all-round development of the area and also usher in economic prosperity and provide employment to the local people.
On the occasion, Chouhan announced an initial Rs. 50 lakh to be provided for construction of nagar panchayat building and development of the area.
Minister in-charge of Chhatarpur district, Gopal Bhargav, Minister of State for Forests, Rajendra Shukla, local M.P., MLAs and prominent citizens were also present on the occasion.
In her address, Stepheny Loader, director of the Bunder Project, informed that the sample processing plant, one of the most modern in the world, is fully modular and has the capacity to process 10 tonnes of samples every hour.
The plant is automatic and specially designed to reduce environmental impact besides minimizing dust and noise, it also does not use any kind of chemical besides being equipped with a water harvesting feature.
At the moment, the Bunder project employs 220 people, including 93 from Madhya Pradesh.
In future, the diamond mine plans to provide direct employment to four hundred persons and indirect employment on a large scale for operation of mine and providing essential commodities and services.
As per an estimate, a minimum investment of Rs. 2200 crores would be required to develop a mine under the Bunder Project.
