Sniffing for ‘blood diamonds’,watchdog team to visit Surat

The Zimbabwe government-run diamond mines have been under scanner for “blood diamonds” — there are allegations that the money from sale of diamonds are used to finance war against insurgents there — and the Surat Rough Diamond Sourcing India limited (SRDSIL),a newly formed body of diamond traders,fears its MoU may run aground if the five visiting KP delegates do not clear it.

The delegation will reach Mumbai on Monday. Among other things,it will check if the system of KP clearance is properly maintained in India and if the certification of other countries are verified.

Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council Chairman (GJEPC) Rajeev Jain said,“The delegates will review the implementation of KP certification,which is in place in 72 countries,including India. The certification is necessary for imported rough diamonds. The team will also visit diamond polishing units and meet traders to know more about diamonds in India. We are well prepared.”

According to the MoU the SRDSIL signed with the Zimbabwean government,it will source rough diamonds from Zimbabwe and in turn train thousands of youths from the African country in cutting and polishing rough diamonds.

A few weeks ago,Kimberly Process held a meeting in Israel in which Zimbabwe’s Mines Minister Obert Mpofu was also present.

Chairman of SRDSIL Ashit Mehta said,“We are going to make a good representation before the members. We will stress that out of every 10 finished diamonds in the world,eight are cut and polished in Surat. We will also tell them that India has a large market for rough diamonds and we are facing shortage.”