Jamshedpur: Question on future of copper industry after closure of mines 

Silence over Kendadih mines closure leads to fear among masses  

Jamshedpur, June 4: Questions are being raised about the future of the copper industry in Jharkhand with the closure of the only operational mine of Indian Copper Complex, Kendadih, a unit of public sector company Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL).

All the mines in the Singhbhum copper area of HCL-ICC have now been completely closed. The hopes that were raised during the last few years regarding the copper mines have started dying.

 It is not that the copper industry is witnessing such a phase for the first time. Even before this, the copper mines of Musabani Group have been getting closed. By the year 2003, all the copper mines in this area were completely closed. Thousands of laborers working in the mines were forcibly given voluntary retirement.

There was also a massive movement in those days to save the mines from being closed. However, copper smelter located at Maubhandar continued to function. Even after all the six mines of ICC were closed one by one, the Maubhandar plant was saved from closure.

The production in Maubhandar plant used to be done by supplying ore from the mines operated in other states of HCL. Not only this, copper ores were also imported from abroad. Even in adverse circumstances, the Maubhandar plant was saved from closure. However this time the situation has changed.

This time, not only the operational Surda and Kendadih mines of HCL-ICC have been shut down, but the Maubhandar plant has also been shut down. Interestingly there is no movement to save the plant and mines this times.

This is the reason that the local people have started raising questions about the future of the copper industry.

The local people allege that due to the apathy of the Central and State Government and the negligence of the HCL management, the copper industry in Jharkhand has reached the verge of extinction.

Resentment is being seen among the local people due to the closure of copper mines and plants.

Unemployment has started increasing rapidly and it has become difficult for the contract laborers to maintain the family.