Diamond auction postponed

Panna, MP, Jan 22 (UNI) Auction of diamonds, scheduled here from January 21 to 24, has been postponed to February due to strike by clerical staff at the diamond mines of the National Mineral Development Corporation.

A 15 carat gem variety diamond, found by a stone quarry labourer last month, was among 263 diamonds together weighing 174.11 carat to be put up for auction. Both industrial and gem variety diamonds were mined from the shallow mines spread over the district, according to Diamond Officer J K Solanki.

He said diamond traders from Mumbai, Surat, Jaipur, Delhi and other places, who have gathered for auction under tight security, had started returning due to postponement of auction, apparently for the first time.

Normally, diamonds are auctioned in January, April, July and October every year.

UNI XC SP NY BST1348