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Keonjhar is one of the premier mineral producing districts in Orissa. The district occupies a prominent place in the mineral map of the Country. Iron ore formations occupy most part of the district which can be traced from the Bihar boarder in the north to the Jajpur boarder in the South. Extensive deposits of Manganese ore are found in Thakurani and Joda East hills of Barbil. Good deposits of Chromite, an important and strategic mineral ore found in Boula area near village Nuasahi of Anandapur sub-division. There are also some other mineral deposits in the district such as Quartzite, Bauxite , Gold , Pyrophillite and Lime stone. The two important mineral
based industries in the district are the "Kalinga Iron Works" Barbil and the "Ferro-Manganese
Plant",Joda.
THE KALINGA IRON WORKS, BARBIL The Kalinga Iron Works was initially named as the Kalinga Industries in the private sector with technical collaboration of M/S. Fried Crupp of West Germany having one low shaft furnace with a capacity to produce 30000 M.T. of pig iron per annum. It was taken over by the Industrial Development Corporation of the Government of Orissa on 01st April 1963. It has since been named as “Kalinga Iron Works”. Presently the Kalinga Iron Works produces 100000 M.T. of foundry grade pig iron by three low shaft furnaces. Besides it has a power generating plant of its own which supplies power to the GRIDCO, Orissa to the extent of 2.3 M.W. This industry was running with a capital investment of Rs.1,011.27 lakh in 1985. At present 1,320 persons (both skilled and unskilled) are working in the unit. Under the diversification programme Kalinga Iron Works is also giving to undertake the production of Ductite Iron Spun pipes in close collaboration with TOR-STEEL and MECON. Ductite Iron Spun pipes have a tremendous marketing potential in foreign countries.
The Ferro-Manganese
plant at Joda was taken over by the Tata Iron And Steel Co-Ltd. in December
1957. It was established with a capital investment of Rs.3000 lakhs in 1985 at
present 391 employees are working in the unit. The plant is primarily meant for supplying Ferro-Manganese for TISCO's own plant at Jamshedpur. Three more medium industries have been set up in the district during 1983 as given below.
A sponge iron factory in the name of IPITATA is under implementation by the Tata Iron and Steel Company in collaboration with the Industrial Promotion and Industrial Corporation of Orissa Ltd. at Beleipada. The capital investment of the factory is Rs.35 crores which will provide employment to 375 persons.
Another factory which will produce charge chrome is being set up at Brahmanipal. The capital investment of the factory is Rs.412 crores and it will provide employment to 400 persons. The establishment of the mineral-based industries and factories paved the way for many small scale industries to grow in the district which are largely concentrated in the areas around Keonjhar, Barbil and Joda.
ENGINEERING AND METAL BASED INDUSTRIES There are 53 small industries in the district
employing 274 persons with an investment of 23.56 lakhs.
Products - Automobiles spare
parts, Fabrication work (steel furnitures), almirah, trunks, boxes, grills and
steel metal products.
CHEMICAL & ALLIED INDUSTRIES INCLUDING PLASTIC INDUSTRIES These 48 industries are mostly
concentrated at Keonjhar, Barbil and Ghasipura . there are
268 persons with an capital investment of 30.79 lakhs.
Products- Agarbati,
Candles, bore-metal, battery plates, Lime powder, washing
powder soap, spray paints.
AGRO AND MARINE-BASED INDUSTRY These are mainly situated at Keonjhar, Jhumpura, Tara, Erendei, Saraskolla. These 242 industries have given employment to 893 persons with an investment of 86.96 lakhs. Products- Processing of paddy, wheat , oil seeds and bakery products. There are also many small industries find in the district as detailed below.
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