Jamshedpur: More than 1,200 people, including workers, residents, social activists and trade union members, marched from Jhinkpani to the West Singhbhum deputy commissioner’s office in Chaibasa on Wednesday, demanding govt intervention to prevent the closure of a nearly 80-year-old cement plant.The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to chief minister Hemant Soren through deputy commissioner Manish Kumar, urging the govt to save the plant.The cement plant at Jhinkpani is slated to cease operations from Aug 16. The company has cited depletion of limestone reserves, rising clinker production costs and the ageing, less efficient manufacturing facility as reasons for making operations economically unviable.“The closure of the cement plant will spell doom for Chaibasa, which has largely depended on its successful operation,” said social worker Ramesh Balmuchu.The plant has been gradually winding down operations over the past few months. Cement production was suspended on April 1 after clinker supplies from the company’s Bargarh and Sindri units stopped from March 31. Operations were halted completely on May 3 when its 15 MW captive power plant also shut down.After nearby limestone mines closed, the company had continued producing cement using clinker transported from other units. However, the discontinuation of clinker supplies made further production impossible.Many employees, however, remain unconvinced by the closure reasons. “Restructuring the plant is one thing, but shutting it down completely is unfair,” a company official said on the condition of anonymity.Workers have also dismissed speculation that issues related to land or mining lease renewals triggered the closure.Recognised workers’ union vice-president Siddharth Hesa said a delegation was heading to Jabalpur for talks with the company’s top management on Thursday. “We have no information about the agenda,” he said.An employee, Birbal Gope, said the shutdown will directly impact nearly 1,500 workers, including 74 permanent staffers. Residents estimated that over 50,000 people depend directly or indirectly on the plant for livelihood. Transporters, contractors, traders, hotel owners and small businesses across Jhinkpani, Chaibasa, Hatgamharia and nearby areas fear economic repercussions.“Its closure will have a significant impact on the local economy,” trader Ramesh Birua said.Workers and residents have announced plans for a march to Ranchi in Aug to press the state govt to prevent the plant’s closure. Attempts to contact plant head Raj Gurung were unsuccessful.
