5% of oxygen supply in dist allocated to industries

Pune: Only 5% of oxygen supply in the district would be reserved for industries, while the rest would be allotted to hospitals, the Directorate of Industries said on Thursday.
Sadashiv Survase, regional joint director, industries (Pune division), told TOI they took this decision to avoid a dearth of medical oxygen.
“Only industries that have a constant need for oxygen — pharmaceutical, fertilizers and steel — will be considered on priority for oxygen supply.The rest will have to reschedule their operations, though it is a common raw material in manufacturing and engineering,” he said.
He said the state Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), which monitors oxygen supply and production, would decide which industry gets the nod. They have so far received applications from 12 industrial units.
Nine oxygen manufacturers in Pune and Mumbai cater to the entire state. “Oxygen manufactured in Pune goes to Nanded, Kolhapur, Sangli and Solapur, which puts constraints on the supply chain,” he said.
Sandeep Belsare, president of Pimpri Chinchwad Small Industries Association, said restricted oxygen supply was likely to affect 15,000 units in Pimpri Chinchwad, Chakan, Talegaon and Ranjangaon.
“As per the order, industrial units that need oxygen as a raw material must seek FDA’s permission by April 10. We request the government to extend this deadline to April 15,” he said.