Mumbai: Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) hosted two prominent dignitaries Mr. C.R. Patil, Union minister of Jalshakti and Mr. Harsh Sanghvi, Minister of Home, Industries, Transport, Youth & Sports, Government of Gujarat for a tour of BDB which is one of the largest functional Diamond Exchanges in the world. Mr. Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC, Mr. Anoop Mehta, President BDB, Mr. Mehul Shah, Vice President BDB were present during the welcoming ceremony of dignitaries.

Mr. Harsh Sanghvi went to 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 (MDMA) 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 BDB then formally invited both Mr. C.R. Patil and Mr. 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.

Mr. Patil in his address emphasized on the development of water management projects ‘Jal hai Toh Kal Hai” conceptualized 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 Mr. Harsh Sanghvi 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 Mr. Patil as well as Mr. 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 BDB also recycles waste water and is used for gardening and WC within the bourse.