Centre to auction gold mines in Andhra Pradesh

Vijayawada, August 17: To give a boost to the country’s income, the Central government plans to sell gold mines in Anantapur district. It gave green signal to dig gold at 10 places.
 
The Central government made arrangements to auction Ramagiri north block in Ananrapur district; Boksampalli north plant and Boksampalli south block in Roddam mandal; and Javakula A, B, C, D, O and F in Kadiri mandal. Auction will be held for five mines on August 26 and the remaining five will go for auction on August 29.
 
The gold mines history of Anantapur goes back to 1921, where the then British rulers identified gold mines in Ramagiri area during Tippu Sultan’s rule. For the first time gold mining took place under Dodda Buruju title in Ramagiri area in 1973. It was told that 20 gm gold was dug up then.
 
Karnataka Goldfield Company of Kolar district launched Bharat Gold Mine Limited and started mining works in Ramagiri in 1984. The company extracted 120 kilos gold per annum for about 17 years. They have identified gold mines at 20 locations in Ramagiri but extracted gold from only four locations. Later, stopped gold mining in Ramagiri in 2001.
 
After the scientists informed that there is 16 tonnes of gold in Anantapur, the Central government gave green signal for gold mining. 
 
According to scientists, there will be four grams gold in one tonne earth and 10 ton gold in six locations in Javakula; four tons in Ramagiri; and two tons in Boksampalli.