Nagpur: The state public health department brought some relief to the industrial sector in the unlockdown phase by allowing 20% of the oxygen produced to be supplied to manufacturing plants and air separation units.Before the order, 100% oxygen was being supplied to hospitals to treat the Covid-19 patients.
The burgeoning second wave had necessitated the authorities to issue directions in May to the oxygen plants to stop supplies to the industries.
In the latest order issued on June 2, the health department directed oxygen plants to ensure that the production of medical oxygen continues uninterrupted.
While extending the relief, the department stated that oxygen manufacturing plants have to give priority to the supply at hospitals, even if it is more than the proportion now decided (80% hospitals, 20% industries).Offering the rationale for its decision, the department said that industrial use was allowed considering the high recovery rate in comparison to the infection rate towards the end of May.
The department also pointed to the reduced requirement of oxygen among Covid-19 patients.Sources in the district administration said the city’s current oxygen requirement had fallen to 40-45 metric tonnes (MT) from 145-160 MT during the peak between mid-April to mid-May.
It’s reliably learnt that some of the oxygen plants have already started supplying their industrial clients after the state notifications landed, though the district collector is yet to issue a fresh notice modifying his earlier order of 100% supply of oxygen to the hospitals.
Tarique Patel, owner of Jubilee Glass Works, said the demand and supply of oxygen at the hospitals had substantially dropped.
MIDC industries’ association president CG Shegaonkar said discontinuation of oxygen supply had affected operations to a large extent, especially in the engineering and fabrications units.
“The loss was substantial but cannot be quantified.
Some had to adopt alternative means like use of steel cutters,” he added.
Sachin Jain, secretary of the MIDC industries association, said several units had suffered economically during lockdown and many had to suspend their operations and shut down the plants.
“The industries were already hit by the rising prices of steel in the last few months,” he added.