Geografie 1974, 79, 29-39
Area of Interest of the Machinery Plants at Ranchi (India)
In collaboration with Czechoslovakia a new Foundry Forge Plant is set up at Ranchi in the Indian state Bihar. The area of interest of this plant coveres the southern part of this state. Bihar can be included in the group of newly industrialised states, on the bulk of whose area modern industry is being developed just recently. Great differencies between traditional and modern way of living are typical features and important economical characteristics of this area. By its economic development two contrasting areas have been created on the territory of Bihar. Northward extends the densely populated lowland of the Ganges river covered by fertile soils but pure of minerals. Since ancient time this country has suitable conditions for cultivation and its industrial activity was exclusively connected with the agricultural production. The southern part of Bihar is covered by Chotanagpur plateau rich of minerals. A mutually connected productive cycle based on mineral mining has gradually rised there. Large deposites of coaking coal caused creatior of various groups of industries connected by technological linkages. Production of pig iron, steel, alloys, coke, fertilizers and other chemicals as well as mining and metallurgical machine equipment makes base of the industrial activity. The development of these cycles has strenghtened intra-regional productive and economical linkages and the whole area is formed as a territorial production integration facilitated by a united power grid system. On the territory of Bihar I have determined four industrial regions: 1. area attached to the southern bank of the Ganges river; 2. lower part of the Son river valley; 3. Damodar river valley; 4. Subarnarekha river valley. There is no doubt, that the industrial area situated tn Subarnarekha river valley, based on iron metallurgy, is the most important one for the future requirements of Bihar industrialisation. This area includes two main industrial concentrations - Ranchi, where plants owned by state Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) dominate and Jamshedpur, where Tata concern is situated. The whole area of the Subarnarekha rivers valley has suitable conditions for building up heavy industries. There were suitable combination of water and energetical resources and also a favourable climate, the area being situated on a highland plateau. Nowadays the lack of qualified labour forces makes the only important difficulty for industrialisation, especially at Ranchi. Ranchi area has been developed as a territorial production complex since 1958 due to the efforts of HEC and its assistance in development continues Foundry Forge Plant built up at Ranchi by the help of Czechoslovakia created bases of this industrial area. Although not yet completed, this plant significantly contributes to the process of industrialisation not only in Bihar but also in another parts of India. Foundry Forge Plant partly solves the problem of unemployment in this area and improves living standart of people in its hinterland. As the unique plant of this kind established in the developing coutries of Asia, Foundry Forge Plant supplies material for production of primarely machinery and equipment for the most modern Indian factories. It does closely collaborate with Heavy Machine Tools Plant set up in its neighbourhood also with the assistance of Czechoslovakia. Territorial production complex at Ranchi includes also Heavy Machine Building Plant established with Sowiet assistance. All the three plants are ruled by HEC. In the eighties the plants mentioned above will support half of the whole volume of machinery equipment needed for all Indian steel mills. The second half of this equipment will be supplied by territorially dispersed factories, some of them also built by the help of Czechoslovakia. HEC's plants at Ranchi closely collarate with Tata concern at Jamshedpur situated 150 km eastwards as well as with the larges Indian steel mill, which is under construction at Bokaro 80 km northward. Sorroudings these plants a complex of greater and smaller factories, mostly of light industries, is being developed. In the near future an enlargement of heavy industries connected with existing production is planed. Between HEC's area situated 8 km eastward from Ranchi and Ranchi town (population 170 000 in 1971) itself a coherent belt of urban settlement is being established. Its population is engaged exclusively in industries. If I examine the territorial linkages of industrial plants set up by Czechoslovak assistance to the existing territorial structure it is obvions that within reach of these plants a sufficient amount of labour forces, raw materials and energetical resources is available. To give a final account of their localisation will be however possible only when all these plants will be finished and put at full capacity.
