Maharashtra: Industrial hubs complain about poor oxygen supply, fear closure

PUNE: Industrial units dependent on oxygen for various processes in the Pimpri Chinchwad, Chakan, Talegaon and the Ranjangaon industrial areas are now nearing the brink of closure, as they are not even getting the 20% oxygen the manufacturers were supposed to supply to them.

Industry associations’ sources said oxygen supplies to the manufacturing units have come down to zilch since a week with the distributors refusing refills fearing checks by the authorities.Several distributors were unanimous that they have been instructed to give high priority to oxygen supply to hospitals, and thus they could not even ensure the 20% quota for the industries.
Pimpri Chinchwad Small Industries Association president Sandeep Belsare told TOI, “About 15,000 industrial units in Pimpri Chinchwad, Chakan, Talegaon and Ranjangaon industrial areas, especially the small and micro units, have been affected because they were using oxygen for processes such as metal welding and fabrication. Many of their processes dependent on oxygen use have stopped, while others that had oxygen stock are expected to run out during the next few days.”
Sources from the Maharashtra Industries, Energy and Labour Department confirmed that supplies to industries have come down to minimal , as the government authorities recently caught distributors black marketing liquid oxygen meant for medical use to the manufacturing units. As a result, they were told to stop refilling oxygen for industries to check black marketing. “The manufacturers were earlier this month told to produce 80% oxygen for medical facilities and 20% for industries,” an official in the department said.