The uranium mining was stopped at Jaduguda in September as the lease with Uranium Corporation of India was expired.
UCIL corporate communications manager Pinaki Roy was quoted by Press Trust Of India as saying: "The overall mining production has gone down substantially — by 10-15% — after the mining in Jaduguda has been stopped.
"We had applied for renewal of lease in 2006 and it expired in 2007.
"Since then, the mines were being operated as a deemed lease. This year, the government said that the concept of deemed lease was no longer applicable and a closure notice was given to us on September 6."
The mine has been operating since 1968, and produced 5,000 tons per day.
Sources from Department of Atomic Energy said that the agency has worked to expand production capacities of other mines; however, due to quality related issues the production costs have increased.
"The mines at Narwapahar and Bagjata have ore, but it is 15-20% less rich than Jaduguda’s," Roy added.
