Jharkhand Govt issues closure notice to Hindalco’s five bauxite mines

Hindalco Industries LogoMumbai: Five bauxite mines – Pakhar, Hisri, Hisri (New), Bagru and Bhushar – of aluminum and copper major Hindalco Industries has been served closure notice by the Jharkhand government as these mines lease fall under second deemed renewal.

This move comes after central government issued an order in July demanding closure of all mineral mine leases operating under second deemed renewal.
“Five of Hindalco’s bauxite mines have been closed since September 10. Hindalco has nine mines in the state. Two of these mines have exhausted resources, five have been served closure notice, so only two are currently operating,” D N Singh, district mining officer, Lohardaga, Jharkhand said.

Hindalco has nine mines in the state producing around 2.23 mt of bauxite and contributing around 45% of bauxite production. Of this 1.01 mt of bauxite production will be impacted with the shutdown of five mines.
Further Hindalco’s production at Maliparbat bauxite mine in Odisha has come to halt as the district administration has imposed a prohibitory order.

The state government had also issued similar closure notice to 12 iron ore mines of Tata Steel and Steel Authority of India on September 8.