Bharat Gold Mines Limited

Bharat Gold Mines Limited or in short BGML is a public sector undertaking of the government of India.

Introduction

BGML is under the Department of Mines. It is primarily engaged in mining in its captive mines in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) [located in Karnataka] and Andhra Pradesh and production of gold in KGF - a small town in Kolar District. As a diversification measure, the Company also undertakes mine construction, shaft sinking, manufacture of mining machinery and other fabricated items for outside clients for which it has set up a Mine Construction and Engineering Division. BGML was one of those mines which was the adding to the glory of India with its largest Production of Gold.“The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes
Everything is Limited and not for ever -
The Mines was pulled down in the year 2001 as the Gold Exhausted and no longer available in that huge amounts as before.

History

The current mines has a history of about 120 years, when the first mines were started by the British Raj and people from surrounding areas were brought as laborers to work in the mines. Thus the city of Kolar Gold Fields was born. But the actual mining of Gold itself goes back to many centuries, the Cholas of south India had small mining pits in the region.

Changing Hands

The Kolar Gold Mines were taken up for systematic exploitation by John Taylor & Sons in 1880. Then it went into the hands of the then Mysore state in 1947. The mines were handed over to the central Government in 1972 and BGML was formed. The company operates two mines in Mysore mines ,Champion mine & Nundydroog mine.

Glory Days

Bharath Gold Mines Limited(BGML) at KolarGold Fields was one of the largest Gold Mines in India until the in the year 2001. It is the largest and deepest gold mine in Asia. This mines was the first place in Asia to get electricity. It had a thriving population of Three million people at the peak of its production. The Gold Mine is spread over an area of seventeen square miles. The British Raj were the onnes to structure a well planned town and named it as Robertsonpet for the Non working populace of KGF. Bethamangala lake which is about 10 kilometers from the city was the major source of water to this town.
KGF(Kolar Gold Fields) was always on the top list crowned as largest Gold Producers for its continous contribution towards Production of Gold.

Silicosis

After the beginning of large scale mining, the workers were prone to various dieases related with breathing and lungs of which Silicosis is one of them. Silicosis is a progressive disease affecting the lung. Silicosis is caused by inhalation of the fine silica dust from the mines over many years. This was mostly identified and diagnosed in the workers of the Kolar Gold Mines.

Closure

The mines was closed in the year 2001 as the profit from mining gold was lesser than the cost involved.

photo by santhosh P kumar

santhosh