By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, January 20, 2015 : Odisha will soon come out with a policy to bring the unorganised gemstone mining sector in the State under regulation and expects to enrich the exchequer by about Rs 50-60 crore per annum.

Speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of a workshop on gemstone here on Wednesday, steel and mines minister Prafulla Mallick said, “We have gemstone deposits in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts. In the absence of a policy to regulate the sector, we are not getting any revenue from the deposits. To tap the sector, we are planning to bring a revised policy and the draft will be ready by this March. We are aiming revenue worth Rs 50-60 crore a year from lease of these deposits.”

The minister admitted large scale illegal transportation of gemstone to other states saying that one the policy is in put in place, it would restrict such activities.

“Yes, we are going to stop this. Besides, this will also help the State government to create more employment,” he noted.

Official sources said in 2014, the Steel and Mines department had decided to undertake surveys in 80,707 square kilometer area of northwest and central Odisha to find traces of coal, gold and gemstone.