Glittering find pits prospectors against environment
The accidental discovery of a gem bearing layer of land which was auctioned for mining for Rs 271 million, has given rise to rumours of the existence of more such gem-bearing land in the Kataragama–thammanawa area, leading to a frenzy among villagers in the area, forcing the police to step in to bring matters under control.
“There is no new gem deposit. People believed that there were gems in this particular area, but it is false,” police media spokesman, Ajith Rohana said.
He said, additional security has been provided to the area, as unruly crowds of outsiders had entered this land and had become a menace to the villagers, disturbing their day-to-day lives.
“Time to time, 1,000-2,000 people gather around the place. We obtained a court order to maintain law and order and we have extended the order to restrain people from entering this area,” he said.
The land in the Kataragama-thammanawa area, which is believed to contain gems, is State land belonging to the Forest Conservation Department. Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Chanaka Amila said that around 10 villagers started illicitly digging at the place on February 25, and spread the rumour. “These people started digging the place out of curiosity. Later, people from all over the country started descending on the place, when they heard that gems were found there,” he said. He further stated that digging in this area will cause environment problems and that police were deployed to minimise this harm.
National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) Chairman, Prasadh Galhena said that they have sent a team comprising the Ministry of Environment, NGJA, Geological Survey & Mines Bureau, Gem Research Institute and the Forest Department to survey the potential gem bearing lands in the region, to avoid digging all over the place and cause environmental damage and pollution. They are looking forward to educating the people of their findings.
It was also rumoured that the gems found in this area were identified as topaz which belongs to the yellow corundum family.
The auctioned land was handed over to the people who bought the blocks on February 29. J Guruge who purchased two blocks at the auction, said that it will take around twothree weeks for them to find gems in these blocks. “We have to dig up to 20 feet or more to find any gems,” he said. Gem merchants believe that there will be gems worth millions in the auctioned land, which will lead to a big breakthrough for the gem industry.
Mr. Galhena said he wished to register his first find at the auctioned place as Kataragama Blue. He explained that, in the gem trade, the origin has a bearing. Presently the Cashmere Blue commands the highest price. But since 1920, there weren’t any Cashmere Blues found. Yet, there are gems sold as Cashmere Blue, because the name itself has a value.
He also said they intend installing CCTVS and monitor the place as a private project. “We’ll use all the necessary technology and monitor it to the maximum. Right now, there will be forces personnel for the next two weeks, as well as the police. The forces will leave, but the police may remain to ensure law and order,” he said.
He said that the Geological Institute of America (GIA) has confirmed that the blue sapphires found in this place were some of the best in the world. “Many people are under the impression that we carried out a land auction, but we only auctioned the mining rights for a year,” he explained.
Forty nine blocks totalling 2½ acres of land were auctioned last week in the Thammanawa area, after discovering gems belong- ing to the corundum family. However, Mr. Galhena said that there wasn’t any scientific basis to confirm the existence of gem deposits in the area. “Due to the location of a primary deposit, we believe that there may be a secondary deposit closer to this place, and hence, can conclude that there would be gems in large quantities within this area,” he said.
The Chairman also stated that there are people selling synthetic gems as genuine stones found on the land.
Police spokesman, Ajith Rohana, said that, if complaints are made regarding attempts at cheating the public, they would act on it.
Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute Director General Tilak Dharmaratne said an average person cannot identify gem bearing layers of soil without proper knowledge.“without good geological and gemological knowledge, one cannot identify if a particular area is a gem bearing one,” he said.
However, in Thammanawa, it was not necessary to do a test because the land had already been dug for road construction, the Director told us.
“In my view, there may be gem deposits around this locality. However, we have to do a specific exploration survey and ascertain the potential of this area. There is also the need to have a ‘one-on-one’ discussion with the environment protection authorities, for their permission to release this particular land for mining,” he said.
He explained that the government has allocated Rs 36 million for an islandwide survey to locate gem bearing lands. The project has been handed over to the Gem & Jewellery Research & Training Institute. “We started the project in the Moneragala district last year, but lacked proper facilities and manpower for it,” he said.
Experts point out that the discovery of the gem pit in Thammanawa has had people descending on the area in search of gem deposits, which will damage forest cover and create social issues.
They also warn that illicit gem mining will cause loss of biodiversity, add to the growing mosquito menace and contaminate ground water in the area by the use of chemicals. It could also damage the livelihoods of the people in the area.