Diamond processing in small towns to get hi-tech

SURAT: The small and medium diamond manufacturers in Gujarat will now be able to increase their output using modern technology.
The Union ministry of commerce and industries has given an in-principle approval for setting up a common facility centre (CFC) in Ahmedabad, Amreli, Visnagar and Palanpur. The centre will be equipped with modern equipments for polishing diamonds.
Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and Indian Diamond Institute (IDI) had jointly prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for setting up CFCs in 13 centres — Surat, Navsari, Ahmedabad, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Botad, Visnagar, Junagadh, Jasdan and Deesa-- across the state.The project was sanctioned by central government under the 12th Five Year Plan at the total cost of Rs 50 crore.
Gujarat processes Rs 90,000 crore worth of polished diamonds per annum. Surat contributes 80 per cent of diamond manufacturing, while the rest is done in other centres. Around 80 per cent of the units in these small centres in Saurashtra, Ahmedabad and north Gujarat do job work for the big and medium units in Surat.
In the past few years, many small diamond manufacturers and workers have shifted to their villages in Saurashtra, including Bhavnagar and Amreli, where they have set up small units following round-the-clock supply of electricity under the state government's Jyotirgram scheme.
Industry sources said diamond manufacturers in centres other than Surat are lagging behind when it comes to processing diamonds using hi-tech machines. Small players are not in a position to invest lakhs of rupees for installing modern technology for diamond polishing and jewellery making.
"Diamond units operating in small centres across the state are using old and outdated technology, which was used in Surat 15 years ago. The productivity and quality of work is compromised. Through the common facility centres we want to provide a platform to diamond manufacturers to make use of modern technology and increase their productivity at par with global standards," executive director, GJEPC, Sabhyasachi Ray said.
Chandrakant Sanghavi, regional director, GJEPC said, "The common facility centres will provide all the facilities to small diamond manufacturers such as planning of rough diamonds, laser marking, computer-aided design (CAD) for jewellery making etc. on job work basis."
Sanghavi added, "We have planned around 20 workshops for the diamond workers and diamond unit owners in the small centres in Surat, Navsari, Bhavnagar, Jasdan, Rajkot, Amreli, Junagadh and Ahmedabad. The qualified staff of IDI will train the unit owners on adopting modern technology in diamond manufacturing."