The Andhra Pradesh Government has taken a key decision by officially renaming the prominent gold mine in Kurnool district. The Jonnagiri Gold Mine — the first gold mine in India established through private participation after Independence — will now be known as Swarnagiri Gold Mine. Orders to this effect were issued by Mukesh Kumar Meena, Principal Secretary of the Mines Department.
The government stated that the new name was chosen keeping in view the regional significance and national importance of the mine, which is expected to emerge as one of India’s most important gold production centres in the future.
In Telugu, “Swarna” means gold and “Giri” means hill. Since the hills in this region are rich in gold deposits, the government said the name “Swarnagiri” is highly appropriate. Historically, the Jonnagiri region has a rich legacy of mineral resources. It forms part of the Jonnagiri Greenstone Belt within the Eastern Dharwar Craton, where traces of ancient mining activities and rock-cutting marks can still be seen, indicating that gold was extracted there centuries ago.
