The Stones Are Back

Andhra Pradesh, the cradle of the Kohinoor and the Regent, was once known as ‘Ratnaseema, the Land of Diamonds’. Now, mining prospects in the state are looking up again, following the "positive" results thrown up by the Rs 21-crore aeromagnetic reconnaissance conducted by seven mncs—including South Africa’s De Beers and Australia’s cra and bhp—over some 45,000 sq km covering Rayalaseema, parts of Telangana and along the Krishna’s course. The prospecting has already received a boost with the identification of a diamond kimberlite in Anantapur.