An Australian-Indian consortium wants to restart gold mining in a district that helped symbolise former British rule in India and produced some 25-million ounces over 150 years before being abandoned due to low bullion prices.
Mining in the Kolar gold field in Karnataka state in Southern India ended in 2001 as gold prices slumped. But a government tender could lead to mining leases held by Bharat Gold Mines Ltd sold to the highest bidder and operations resume.