Bharat Diamond Bourse hosted two prominent dignitaries Shri C.R. Patil, Union minister of Jalshakti, Government of India and Shri Harsh Sanghvi, Minister of Home, Industries, Transport, Youth & Sports, Government of Gujarat for a tour of BDB which is today the largest functional Diamond Exchange in the world. Shri Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC, Shri Anoop Mehta, President BDB, Shri Mehul Shah, Vice President BDB were present during the welcoming ceremony of dignitaries. The honorable Shri Harsh Sanghvi went to Ayambi Oli, a religious event where over 2000 devotees were having ambil. Mr Sanghvi served food to devotees. Later they visited GJEPC office and toured the newly opened Customs department and logistics area, post which Mr Bharat Shah invited the ministers to Mumbai Diamond Manufacturers Association and gave a firsthand view of the MDMA along with facts on employment offered to people as well as access to traders who regularly trade on diamonds, which gives them livelihood.
Mr Anoop Mehta, President Bharat Diamond Bourse then formally invited both Shri C.R.Patil and Shri Harsh Sanghvi to BDB with an address thanking them for their presence and added that BDB committee and members were honored by their respective visit. Shri C.R. Patil in his address emphasized on the development of water management projects ‘Jal hai Toh Kal Hai” conceptualised by the government of India under the Jal Shakti department by engaging local communities to build wells to store drinking water in regions with very reduced or no water supply. Over 3 lakh water wells have been developed under the Jal Shakti project that has benefited millions of people. The formation of this ministry reflects India’s seriousness towards the mounting water challenges the country has been facing over the past few decades. The address by Shri Harsh Shah was also encouraging to the members as he delved on the importance of growth of the Industry and extended support to the trade. The dignitaries then visited the security department where Mr Samir Jha briefed them on the world class security services installed within BDB.
The ‘Vote of Thanks’ was given by Mr Mehul Shah, who thanked Shri C.R. Patil as well as Shri Harsh Sanghvi for the visit. He applauded the efforts made by the government of India for conservation and management of ‘water’ that is very critical to the progress and development of the nation. He also opined that BDB was designed in the year 1991, and the members foresaw the need for water conservation then and made a facility to conserve water and today harvests over 200000 litres of water. An important thing to note here is that BDB also recycles waste water and is used for gardening and WC within the bourse.
