Diamonds will be discovered in the River Beds of Jharkhand

• 21 Nov 2023

Why In News?

According to information received from the media on November 18, 2023, diamonds will be discovered in the sediments of many rivers in Ranchi and Palamu divisional districts of Jharkhand. The Ministry of Mines of the Central Government has approved this project.

Key Points:

• It may be noted that the Geological Survey of India has prepared this project in 2019. For this, the map of 'Diamond River' of Jharkhand and other information in the books of dozens of world famous authors, from 'Jahangirnama' of Mughal rule till 1917, has been made the basis.
• The map released in French traveler JB Trevernier's India travelogue book will also be explored near Diamond River in Chhotanagpur. For this, survey of rivers of many districts including Ranchi, Gumla, Simdega, Lohardaga, Latehar, especially Koel and Shankh rivers will be conducted.
• Those places along the banks of the river where insects, wasps and termites are found from the ground have been included in it. Besides, wherever other minerals are being extracted on a large scale in the state, a survey will also be conducted.
• Jahangirnama's translator Munshi Devi Prasad and other translator Brajaratnadas told that both small and big diamonds are found on the banks of Shankh river in Ranchi. Dr. Mathuralal Sharma, translator of 'Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri' has also confirmed this.
• H Kupalen has written in Bengal District Gazetteer Manbhum that there was diamond in the jurisdiction of Nagvanshis. Whereas, MG Halit in Bihar District Gazetteer Ranchi has mentioned the presence of diamonds in the alluvium of Shankh river of Ranchi.
• Similarly, Prof. John Dowson, in his book 'The History of India as told by its own historian', has mentioned that both small and big diamonds were found on the banks of Shankh River in Jharkhand.
• Apart from this, Colonel Dalton's book 'Ethnology of Bengal', JB Trevinier's book 'Tribals in India', CF George's book 'What a Dictionary of the Economic Product of India', V Bal's book 'The Diamonds, Coal and Gold of India'. There are such mentions in 'India' etc also.