Malkangiri: As incredible as it may sound, the Saberi riverbed near Sunajharia in this block has turned into a ‘gold mine’ for the locals.
The riverbed is believed to have granules of gold and searching for them is still the most sought after profession among tribals.
Following the popular practice of their ancestors, locals can be seen roaming around in search of gold grains in the sand and manage to run their families with what they get from the riverbed.
The villagers go deep into the river, with tools like sieves, broken tiles and iron rods in their hunt for gold. While a few get some grains by noon, others have to bend their backs till evening to lay their hands on some granules. They pick up sand, small pieces of stones and other shining material and sieve them in the water to get the yellow metal which they sell to gold traders.
Every day, traders visit the village to procure gold. The locals claim that after finishing the cleaning process, the gold glitters. Again they rush to the same spot where they have collected the sand for more gold and keep repeating it for more gold grains.
On an average, the locals go into the river 10 to 15 times a day to extract gold that can fetch them around Rs 3,000. The summer season is the best time, they say.
“Earlier we used to eke out a living by fishing. But the number of fish has come down over the years forcing us to explore gold in the river. Every day we manage to get about Rs 400,” said a local.
“I had learnt from my father the art of collecting gold granules from the river. Though there are dry spells in this profession, sometimes we earn up to Rs 5,000 a day in certain pockets of the river,” another resident said.
“I am sure there are gold deposits inside the river. However, the collection process is not easy. It requires a lot of strength to stand in water patiently to get your share,” a woman said.
After collecting the gold some tribals visit Jeypore town once in a week and sell it to the goldsmiths.
It is also believed that Subabahi stones, which is available at Gopur, Gajipu, Kushakala, Adala, Telkoi, Saleikana, Dimirimunda and Kardanga areas in Keonjhar district and Jasipur, Suriaguda, Ruansi, Idelkumba, Maredihi, Suleipat and Badampahad areas in Mayurbhanj district contain gold.
Similarly, some areas in Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Angul districts have gold deposits in riverbeds.
PNN