Which of the following was NOT a reason for choosing Sakchi as the site for the TISCO steel plant?

Correct Option

The correct option is

Presence of a large local market within Sakchi itself.

Explanation

The location of the iron and steel industry is primarily determined by the availability of heavy, weight-losing raw materials (iron ore and coal), water supply, and transport connectivity. The site selection for TISCO (Tata Iron and Steel Company) at Sakchi in 1907 was a classic application of these industrial location principles.

Option Analysis

• Proximity to the Kalimati station on the Bengal-Nagpur railway line. was a reason: The site was chosen for its proximity (only 32 km) to the Kalimati station on the Bengal-Nagpur railway line. This ensured connectivity to Kolkata, which provided access to a port and a broader market.
• Availability of sufficient water from the rivers Kharkai and Subarnarekha. was a reason: Steel manufacturing requires large volumes of water for cooling and power generation. Sakchi was situated at the confluence of the rivers Subarnarekha and Kharkai, ensuring a sufficient and perennial water supply.
• Presence of a large local market within Sakchi itself. was NOT a reason: At the time of the plant's establishment, Sakchi was a remote village in a forested area. There was no large local market within Sakchi itself. The target market for the steel was the Indian Railways and the British colonial infrastructure projects across India, not the immediate locality.
• Closeness to iron ore, coal, and manganese deposits. was a reason: The location was strategically placed between the iron ore deposits of Odisha (Gorumahisani) and the coking coal fields of Jharia, along with available manganese, minimizing the transportation cost of raw materials.

Key Takeaway: The location of the TISCO steel plant was driven by the proximity to raw materials, water sources, and railway transport, not by the existence of a local consumer market in the remote area of Sakchi.