Question

5. Why did the Indian iron smelting industry decline
in the nineteenth century?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Indian iron smelting companies decline in the 19th century because of the following reasons:

1. one reason was the new forest laws.when the colonial govn. prevented people from entering the reserved forests,the iron smelters could not find wood for charcoal and could not get iron ore.

2. Defying forest laws they often entered the forests and collected wood secretly but they could not sustain their ocupation on this basis for long.after much effort they were allowed but had to pay great taxes which often redused their income.

3.By late 19th century iron and steel was being imported from britain .This ienvitably lowered the demand for iron produced by local smelters