Ludhiana: Almost a month after ban on the use of oxygen gas in industrial processes was imposed in Punjab, the factories are now gasping for breath. TOI had recently reported about how the production of the furnace industry had tumbled due to non availability of gas and as a result a large number of factories have shut their operations. However, conditions have gotten even worse now and on Tuesday several business associations issued an appeal to the state government to come up with an alternative to meet industrial requirement of oxygen and also divert additional stock available for industrial use.
Ludhiana: A day after the district administration ordered a ban on the use of oxygen by factories except for nine sectors, the furnace industry, which though has been allowed its use, is reporting huge shortage as well as a hike in rates.
Businessmen said all gas re-fillers and distributors were claiming non-availability of gas and they were not giving any confirmed delivery dates. The cost of refilling a 7-cubic-metres gas cylinder, which until recently was Rs 170, has shot up by three times to Rs 500. Industrialists are of the view that if the current situation prevails for the next two to three weeks, there will be a crisis in the engineering sector, as the furnace industry will not be able to produce raw material used by the micro, small and medium enterprises. Production of all the industries dependent on it will come to a halt. They are urging the government to take steps to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas in hospitals as well as industry.