Hunt for diamonds begins in several Kurnool villages of Andhra Pradesh
KURNOOL: The present rains, marking the beginning of the rainy season, have prompted many families to leave their homes on diamond hunt in several places of Kurnool district. People live in makeshift tents between June and November in Jonnagiri, Tuggali, Maddikera, Pagidirai, Peravali, Mahanandi and Mahadevapuram, which are diamond rich places in the district.
Diamonds, according to reports, show up after rains wash away several layers of earth. Many people focus on areas around Sarvanarasimha Swamy temple in Sirivella mandal headquarters for diamond hunt as it is believed that Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara empire and his minister Timmarusu hid a big treasure of diamonds and gold ornaments near the temple.
Apart from locals, several enthusiasts from neighbouring districts like Anantapur, Kadapa and Prakasam of AP and Bellary of Karnataka also test their fortune going on diamond hunting.
A team of scientists from the US and Australia representing some foreign firms, oversaw excavations in the above areas as part of their exploration, some years ago. A foreign company took 50 acres of land at Mahanandi and Mahadevapuram near Nallamala forest for lease and has been carrying out excavations using heavy machinery for the last five years.
In the past, another international firm had conducted excavations in Maddikera, Jonnagiri, Peravali, Basinipalle, Madanahantha and Hampa villages but gave up after few trials. Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Tushar Gandhi too had readied plans for diamond mining by adopting Pagidirai, P Kothur and Chinnajonnagiri villages. He also visited Maddikera and Tuggali villages five years ago and told locals that 25 per cent of earnings from sale of diamonds would be spent for the development of villages from where the diamonds are found. Maddikera villagers revealed that they keep finding diamonds near their village on regular basis.
Diamond hunting is not a new thing in Kurnool district and it has been going on for the last five decades. According to the villagers of Peravali and Jonnagiri, local merchants and middlemen sell the diamonds procured from villagers to big traders in Gooty of Anantapur district at a high price.
Meanwhile, some policemen who are accustomed to take bribes, are keeping mum despite accepting the fact that hunt for diamonds is going on in the villages. However, they maintained that they would hand over diamonds to the government if any occurrences are informed to them.