Fig. 9 World- Iron and Steel industry

Three iron and steel plants were established in India before Independence. Two of these were located at Jamshedpur and Kulti -Burnpur based on the iron ore, coal and manganese resources of Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. Mysore Steel Works at Bhadravati was established by exploiting the iron ore resources of Karnataka. In India, iron ore reserves are located in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Guru Mahisani, Badam Pahar, Bonai and Noamundi. Coal is available from Jharia, Raniganj, Karnpura, Giridhih, Talchir, Singrauli and Korba. Manganese is obtained from Bonai and limestone from Birmitrapur. The high density of population in eastern India provides cheap labour. There is a dense network of rail and roads. Water is available from rivers. The industrial hinterland of Calcutta has large demand for Iron and steel. This is why three Iron and steel plants i.e. Durgapur, Rourkela and Bokaro, have been established in this region after independence. Bhilai was located in backward tribal region in order to reduce the regional imbalance in economic development..