Advantages and Factors of Development

(i) Raw material: This region is rich in mineral resources and has large reserves of iron ore, copper, mica, bauxite, fire clay, coal, manganese, dolomite, limestone, etc.

(ii) Labour: Cheap workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are easily available. Trained and skilled workers are also available.

(iii) Sources of energy: The well-known coal deposits of Damodar valley lay in this region. Electricity is also available from Damodar valley project.

(iv) Transport: This region is connected to the Kolkata port and other parts of India with roads and railways. The canal waterways of Damodar Project are also used.

Important Industries and Chief Industrial Centres: A variety of industries including iron and steel, paper, chemicals, heavy engineering, cycles, aluminium, fertilisers, cement, locomotive and railway wagons, etc. have developed in this region. Iron and steel is the most important industry of Chhotanagpur region. The public sector steel plants of Bokaro, Durgapur, Kulti and Burnpur and the private sector iron and steel plant of Jamshedpur are situated in this very region. Sindri, Chittaranjan, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Chaibasa, Hazaribagh, Daltonganj, Garwa and Japla are the chief industrial centres.