Ghatsila, which is known as the “Copper Queen” of India, is now unable to extract even a gram of copper. The copper smelter plant, which was built in 1932, has been lying idle for years. Copper ore from Ghatsila is now being sent to Gujarat for smelting.
The lease for the copper mines in Ghatsila expired in 2020, and the state government has not yet renewed it. As a result, mining has been suspended for four years. However, even when mining resumes, the copper ore will likely be sent to Gujarat for smelting, as the state and central governments have not taken any steps to restart the Ghatsila plant.
A private company has been granted a license to extract 11,000 tonnes of copper from the mines in Ghatsila. However, it is unclear if the company will be able to start production without the smelter plant.(Also read below)
The closure of the copper industry in Ghatsila is a major blow to the state’s economy. The industry once employed thousands of people and generated millions of dollars in revenue for the state. The closure of the industry has also led to environmental problems, as the copper ore is being transported long distances, which increases pollution.
The Jharkhand government has said that it is working to restart the Ghatsila copper smelter plant. However, there has been no progress on this front so far.