Mica mining revival in Jharkhand on the cards

Mica mining during Bihar regime had been stopped for over two decades resulting in unemployment of thousands of people owing to sick of the mica industries.

The mica production in India had been confined to Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan where contribution of the three states in mica were of the order of 60, 30 and 10 per cent respectively.

Mica is being considered as an important strategic mineral because of its excellent insulating properties and high-heat-resistance capacity.

Chemical, pharmaceutical and paints industries are the main consumers of mica.

After constitution of Jharkhand bifurcating Bihar in November 2000, five coalition governments came in power that failed in reviving this important mineral (mica) despite of its huge export potentiality.

Arjun Munda who now leads the coalition government in Jharkhand went to Germany leading an Indian delegation in April this year to take part in the world’s biggest industrial fair held on the Hanover fair ground in Germany.

Chief minister during interaction with the industrialists in Germany made a presentation on the availability of huge reserves of important minerals in the state and asked them to avail the scope of the minerals in Jharkhand in setting up industries..

In response to chief minister’s call, the German-based chemical and pharmaceutical major Merck delegation along with some mica suppliers met the chief minister, chief secretary and mining secretary in Ranchi last week.

State mining department source said that Merck wanted allotment of mica mines in Jharkhand’s mica zone in favour of Merck’s six suppliers. But the source said Merck’s suppliers did not provide the required documents needed for mining leases to the state government and so during interaction with the Merck’s delegation with the senior officials of the state it was brought to their notice. As soon as the documents from the Merck’s suppliers were received, it would be scrutinized and if found right recommendations for mica mining leases for the Merck’s suppliers would be forwarded to the Centre, the source said.

Industry sources pointed out that world famous quality of Ruby Mica produced in India was available in the Koderma mica belt..

They said that the German company – Merck had intended to procure mica from Jharkhand’s mines from legal lessees as earlier the company had faced strong protests in Germany because of complaints of engagement of child labour in mica mining in Jharkhand.

However, an official source said that illegal mica mining and trade in Jharkhand could not be stopped and around 4,000 to 5,000 labourers including child were engaged in the illegal mica trade in the Koderma- Giridih zones.