MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

The process of turning raw materials into finished goods by using tools, human labour, machinery, and chemical processing is called manufacturing.

1. Classification of Industries

Based on the source of raw materials used

• Agro-based: cotton, woollen, jute, silk, textile, rubber, sugar and tea, coffee and edible oil.
• Mineral-based: iron and steel, cement, aluminium, petrochemicals and machine tools.

Based on capital investment

The capital investment of a small-scale industry requires 1 crore rupees. The investment is above 1 crore it is said to be a large-scale industry.

• Key industries production of machine tools or chemicals.  The output is essential to the successful operation of many other industries.
• Consumer industries produce goods for direct use by consumers, for example, sugar, paper etc.

Based on ownership

• Public sector industries: owned and operated by government agencies –BHEL, SAIL etc.
• Private-sector industries: owned and operated by an individual or group of individuals – TISCO, Bajaj Auto Ltd. Etc.
• Joint sector industries: it is jointly run by the state and individuals or groups of individuals- oil India Ltd.

Based on the bulk and weight of raw material and finished goods: Heavy industries such as iron and steel and Light industries such as electrical industries.

Agro-based industries

• Textile industry: The first textile mill was established in Mumbai in 1854.
• Cotton textiles: India has a large share in cotton yarn trading.
• Jute textiles: India is the largest producer of raw jute and jute goods. The first jute mill in India was set up in 1859 at Rishra near Kolkata. Most of the jute mills are established on the banks of River Hugli. In 2005 National Jute policy was formulated to increase productivity, improve quality, and ensure good prices to the farmers and yield per hectare.
• Sugar industry: India is the second-highest sugar producer in the world. The raw material is used in bulk and haulage, and its sucrose content is reduced. India is the first place in the production of gur and Khansari. This industry is seasonal and it is operated by the cooperative sector. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh states to cultivate the sugar cane.

Mineral-based industries

Minerals and metals are used as raw materials in these industries.

• Iron and steel industry: Iron ore, coking coal and limestone are required in the ratio of 4:2:1. Some quantities of manganese are also required to harden steel. Steel is needed to manufacture a variety of engineering goods, construction materials, defence, medical, telephonic, scientific equipment etc. China is the largest producer and consumer of steel in the world.
• Aluminium smelting: It is the second most important metallurgical industry in India. It is used to manufacture aircraft, utensils and wires. Aluminium smelting plants are located in Odisha, West Bengal Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
• Chemical industries: Ironic and organic sectors. Ironic chemicals include sulphuric acid [used to manufacture fertilizers, synthetic fibres, plastics, adhesives, paints, dyes stuff] Nitric acid, alkalies, soda ash [used to make glass, soaps and detergents, paper] and caustic soda.
• Fertilizer industry: It produces Nitrogenous fertilizers [urea], phosphatic fertilizers ammonium phosphatic [DAP] and complex fertilizers [nitrogen, phosphate and potash. Potash is entirely imported.
• Cement industry: The first cement factory was established in Chennai in 1904. Cement is essential for construction activities such as the building of bridges, dams, roads, houses etc.
• Automobile industry: It is used to transport goods and services and passengers, such as buses, trucks, cars and motor vehicles. These industries are situated in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Indore, Hyderabad, Jamshedpur and Bangalore.
• Information technology and electronics industry: It covers a wide range of products from transistor sets to television, cellular telecoms, computers etc. Bangalore is the electronic capital of India. Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Coimbatore are other important cities.

2. Industrial Pollution and Environmental Degradation

Industries are responsible for four types of pollution.

• Air pollution:  It is caused by the presence of high Sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide dust, spray mist and smoke and burning fossil fuels. It affects human health, animals and plants.
• Water pollution: It is caused by the organic and inorganic industrial waste released into rivers. One litre of industrial wastewater containments eight litres of freshwater.
• Thermal pollution: Hot water from thermal plants and factories is released into rivers.
• Noise pollution:  An industrial and construction activity makes a lot of noise.

Control of Environmental Degradation: Reusing and recycling industrial water, Rainwater harvesting should be adopted to meet its requirements and Noise absorbing materials should be used.