Question

why did the Indian iron smelters industry decline in the 19th century

Answer 1

a) When the colonial government prevented the people from entering reserved forests, they could not find wood for charcoal.
 
b) Defying forest laws, they often entered the forests secretly and collected wood, but they couled not sustain their occupation on this basis for long.

c) In some areas the gov. did grant access to the forest. But the iron smelters had to pay a very high tax to the forest department for every furnace they used.  This reduced their income.

d) By the late nineteenth century, iron and steel was being exported from Britain. Ironsmiths in India began using the imported iron to manufacture utensils and implements.