LD DHANTERAS 2 LAST

\ All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation Chairman All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation Chairman\Sreedhar G V said according to reports coming from across the\country northern region has done extremely well and the sales\are estimated to have \\"20-25 per cent more than last year\\".\ \\"Overall, the retail sales are expected to be 15-20 per\cent more than last year. But, looking at the footfalls, we\are expecting 20-25 per cent growth in the north. The growth\in the south is likely to be around 10-15 per cent compared to\last year,\\" he added.\ The investment demand today is likely to be 2-3 per cent\more than last year, that for light weight jewellery 15-20 per\cent more and diamond 5-10 per cent more than last year, he\said.\ However, Riddhi Siddhi Bullion Traders Managing\Prithviraj Kothari said the sales are likely to be 30-35 per\cent less than last year due to the government rule of PAN\card on purchase of Rs 2 lakh and over.\ \\"The government policy on compulsory PAN card for\purchase of Rs 2 lakh and more of jewellery and bullion has\become negative for the industry and may result in 30-35 per\cent less sales compared to last year,\\" he added. PTI SM LUX\MJH KRK\MR\