ANANTAPUR: Treasure hunters in the agricultural fields of Tuggali mandal in Kurnool district and parts of Vajrakarur in Anantapur district are, however, making the cash registers of lodges on the Gooty railway station premises ringing.
These lodges have been occupied by people from Macherla, Piduguralla, Gudivada, Ongole, Singaraya konda and also from Karnataka who are in search of precious stones.
Within a span of 48 hours, three ‘diamond hunters’ struck gold by stumbling upon precious stones at Jonnagiri village in Tuggali mandal in Kurnool district which reportedly fetched them Rs 2.4 crore till Saturday.
People in the region believe that diamonds surface in the fields with the first rains of the season washing away the top layer of soil. Generally, hunting for diamonds starts in June.
However, as the mandal witnessed heavy rains under the influence of Cyclone Yaas, the hunt for diamonds began in May itself this season. The first among the hunters to get lucky were a driver and two farmworkers.
Sources in the police department said a driver from Chinnagiri had chanced upon a diamond while hunting for precious stones in farmland at Jonnagiri two days ago. The entire operation is normally a secret and those who find precious stones are not aware of their real value. The driver had no knowledge of the exact value of the diamond he had found.
It is learnt that the diamond fetched him Rs 1.2 crore.
Similarly, two agriculture labourers had also chanced upon diamonds in June. They reportedly sold the diamonds for Rs 70 lakh and Rs 50 lakh respectively. Locals said the hunt for diamonds reduced last year due to the nationwide lockdown.
People live in makeshift tents between June and September in Basinepalle, Cheruvu Thanda, Erragudi, Jonnagiri, Tuggali, Maddikera, Pagidirai, Peravali, Mahanandi and Mahadevapuram, which are known to be diamond-rich places in the region.
Apart from locals, several enthusiasts from neighbouring districts like Kadapa, Guntur and Prakasam of AP and Bellary of Karnataka also test their fortune by going for 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.
Previously another international firm had conducted excavations in Maddikera, Jonnagiri, Peravali, Basinipalle, Madanahantha and Hampa villages but gave up after a few trials.
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.
Golla Mallikarjuna of Gooty said after the start of the rainy season, diamond merchants from Mumbai and Chennai would come down to Gooty and Pathikonda to purchase diamonds. “They return after the completion of the rainy season. The merchants, taking advantage of people's innocence, purchase stones at low price and sell them at higher prices," he added.
