Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 10: World famous Padder Sapphire for Rs 42 lakh was sold in the two days auction held here on February 9 and 10.
Though authorities were optimistic of beating previous record in auction of Sapphire this year, with more and more bidders from international level participating in auction, but to their surprise only 20 merchants that too from India only turned up for the auction.
According to Abid Suhail, General Manager J&K Minerals most of the bidders could not take part after the State was put on alert yesterday due to the hanging of Afzal Guru. No participant from Kashmir valley could take part in the auction due to imposition of curfew in Valley while most of the merchants from outside also hesitated to visit the State due to turmoil.
He said the Auction Committee had earlier received calls from bidders outside the country as well as from various States within the country. We think due to the imposition of curfew in Valley yesterday most of them might have cancelled their programme’’, he added.
He said out of 77 lots of Sapphire displayed for auction in two days bidding here only 23 lots were sold for Rs 42 lakh while the rest was withdrawn by the Committee as there were no sufficient bidders for the same.
He however, expressed the hope that during the next bidding in April there will be good response from India as well as abroad.
He said all the members of Auction Committee led by Commissioner Industries as its chairman were present during the two days auction. Besides, the two experts from National Mineral Development Corporation were also present during the auction.
He said this time the bidders were mostly from Mumbai and Kolkatta.
It may be recalled that last time Sapphire worth over 80 lakh was auctioned held in twice a year.
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