Ambala: Oxygen demand dips at hospitals, nod sought for industry usage

Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service
Ambala, May 31

As the demand of oxygen at hospitals has fallen over the last few days, the scientific glassware manufacturers of Ambala have sought permission from the government to allow the use of industrial grade oxygen in industries.

Consumption down to 6 tonnes a day

As per information procured from the Health Department, during the peak of the second wave, the daily consumption of oxygen in the district for Covid patients was 14 tonnes, and following a continuous decrease in fresh cases, the oxygen demand reduced to 6 tonnes a day on Sunday.

The Ambala Scientific Instrument Manufacturer’s Association says that hundreds of people are engaged with glassware manufacturing in Ambala and oxygen is an important component for glass blowing, but due to Covid there is a ban on the use of oxygen for industrial use. This has hit the manufacturers hard and they have started losing pending orders, including domestic and export orders.

As per information procured from the Health Department, during the peak of the second wave, the daily consumption of oxygen in the district for Covid patients was 14 tonnes, and following a continuous decrease in fresh cases, the oxygen demand reduced to 6 tonnes a day on Sunday.

Rajesh Sharma, a glassware manufacturer, said, “The glassware manufacturers in Ambala prepare products for laboratories, pharma industry, research institutes, educational institutes, government departments and for medical purposes. The daily requirement of industrial-grade oxygen for the Ambala industry is around 7 tonnes. Due to the non-availability of oxygen, the units are lying closed and orders are also pending. The customers have started cancelling the orders and seeking their advance back.”

“There are nearly 2,000 people associated with the glassware industry and it has a turnover of a 25 crore per month. If an export order is cancelled, it gets very hard to convince the customer again as they start giving orders to China. The government should pay some attention towards the industry and allow the manufacturers to use the industrial-grade oxygen again”, he added.

Sanjay Gupta, president, Ambala Scientific Instrument Manufacturer’s Association, said, “During the peak of the second wave of Covid, all oxygen gas cylinders were deposited by glass blowing industry of Ambala with the district administration. Now, since the Covid cases have decreased and the consumption of oxygen has also dropped in hospitals we have requested Home Minister Anil Vij that now, the industry should be permitted to use the industrial-grade oxygen so that some industry activity can be started again. We have assured that in case there is any need in the future, we will fully cooperate with the administration. We are hopeful that our demand will be considered and accepted.”

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