Thousands March to Chaibasa DC Demanding Reopening of Shut ACC Cement Plant

Jamshedpur: Thousands of workers, villagers, and displaced employees of the closed ACC Cement Plant in Jhinkpani launched a massive 17-kilometer protest march on Wednesday. The protestors demanded the reopening of the factory and the restoration of their livelihoods after the management shut down the plant citing financial losses.

The march commenced at the Jhinkpani Rajka Mines and culminated at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Chaibasa. There, protestors submitted a detailed memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister, seeking urgent state intervention.

A significant number of local women joined the workers and residents in the demonstration. Raising slogans like “Inquilab Zindabad,” “Mazdoor Ekta Zindabad,” and “Adani Company, Come to Your Senses,” the crowd accused the corporate management of abandoning thousands of families without prior notice or financial support. Anticipating the heavy turnout, the district administration deployed extra police personnel along the entire route to maintain law and order.

3,000 Livelihoods at Stake

Leading the agitation, local representative Ramesh Balmuchu alleged that the plant management abruptly halted operations, stripping nearly 3,000 direct and indirect workers of their employment overnight. He emphasized that the cement plant has served as the economic backbone for regional families for decades, warning that the sudden closure has pushed households into acute financial distress.

Protesters highlighted that the shutdown triggers immediate uncertainty over their children’s education, medical expenses, and daily survival. They urged the state government to step in swiftly to safeguard jobs and revive industrial activity in the region.

The formal memorandum handed to the district administration demands the prompt revival of the plant and strict protection of workers’ rights. Protesters warned that they will intensify the agitation in the coming days if the state government and the Adani Group fail to deliver concrete solutions. They stated that the corporate management and local administration will bear full responsibility for any future escalation.