Cambay diamond industry seeks state help for survival

Setting up of a Diamond Park will help the 50-year-old cutting and polishing industry

The 50-year-old diamond industry in Cambay is seeking concrete steps from the state government to revive the ailing industry. The industry feels that the commissioning of a 'diamond park' can revitalise the diamond cutting and polishing industry.

Due to its ancient skills in cutting colour stones, Cambay had emerged as a center for the diamond cutting about five decades back. Cambay is known for its stonework for centuries.

At present, around 125 registered small and big units employ over 20,000 skilled workers in diamond cutting and polishing works.

"For last five years the diamond processing industry is sailing through a rough weather. Spiraling cost of power and the increasing bad debts due to defaulting customers in Surat and Mumbai have broke the industry's back," said Bhailal Patel, president, the Cambay Diamond Cutters' Association (CDCA).

"We believe that the establishment of a 'Diamond Park' in Cambay, similar to the 'Gems and Jewellery Park' in Surat, will develop the local industry. Cambay has impressive pool of skilled workers that will also gain from the diamond park," he added.

Cambay is dependent on Mumbai and Surat for getting the job work of diamond cutting. No diamond trade is carried out in Cambay.

"It is the limitation of Cambay. We do not have established traders in Cambay. The diamond park will attract traders to set up their base in Cambay," said Prakash Patel, a former president of CDCA. He said that Cambay has all the potential for growth.

"It is very well connected through state and national highways and is not cluttered like other business hubs," he explained.

The Cambay diamond industry is also facing the problem of workers migrating to developing diamond-cutting centers such as Disa, Palanpur and Ahmedabad. The diamond cutters based in Cambay are not getting premium quality diamonds to work on, as traders usually prefer to get the cutting done locally.

Diamond cutters are also of the opinion that Cambay should get a training center. Meanwhile, the Vitthal Udyognagar Industries Association has shown willingness to set up a diamond park in Anand if the state government is ready to join hands.

But diamond cutters are feeling that Cambay, with rich experience and wide base of the industry, deserves the set such as diamond park and may forward the proposal to the state government soon.