Diamond mining has been resumed at India’s Madhya Pradesh's National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) after a four year hiatus.

The diamond mine was closed in 2005 in the aftermath of severe objections raised by the Union Forest and Environment Ministry. The new development came after a No Objection Certificate was issued by the ministry.

NMDC General Manager S C Padamarao stated that the ministry issued the NOC following payment of Rs 10.50 crore to the Panna Tiger Reserve.

According to Padamarao, tens of hundreds of natives of the Hinouta village came to the Bharatmata temple to celebrate the resumption of the diamond operations.

Padamarao noted: ''About 80,000 carat diamonds are mined out per annum here and the state government earned a revenue of crores of rupees besides generation of employment to local residents.''