Gem land to be auctioned tomorrow

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The government will auction a land that has recently caught public attention due to massive gem deposits found in Thammannawa,National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) Chairman Prasadh Galhena said.

The land situated in Thammennawa in Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha area of the Uva Province became a sudden hot spot as gems were found from soil transported to a road construction site from this land.

People flocked to the area and the government had to cordon the area and provide security to prevent illegal mining there.

The gem land will be auctioned by Gem and Jewellery Authority for mining tomorrow at the Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha auditorium at 10:00 a.m. According to chairman the land was surveyed and demarcated into 49 blocks with an extent of 10-15 perches per block and they are to grant gem mining rights for one year under certain conditions.

Those conditions as follows,

* The total payment has to be made in cash.
* Gem mining activities have to be carried out in accordance with rules and regulations
*'20 stipulated by the Authority.
* VAT and NBT is payable for bid value and the license fee of Rs.10,000.
* A refundable security deposit of Rs.25,000 and stamp fee of Rs.1,000 are payable.
*'2A Participants at the auction will be called upon to pay an entrance fee of Rs.1,000
*'20 obtain a registration number.

National Identity Card will be essential to gain entrance to the auction hall.

The Authority intends to allocate three blocks of land out of this 49 blocks to three groups of people from the same area,certified by the Divisional Secretary. All these groups are expected to carry out mining under the supervision of the NGJA as well.