MSMEs urge UP to facilitate transfer of CSIR’s tech
The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have urged the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to play the role of a facilitator in transfer of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR’s) indigenous oxygen concentrator technology to any unit of the state.
“We have requested the state government to take up the issue with the CSIR for transferring of oxygen concentrator technology to an MSME of UP,” said Pankaj Kumar, national president,
Indian Industries Association (IIA).
“Due to big gap in demand and supply of oxygen concentrators in the state their price has skyrocketed making them out of reach for most of the people,” said Kumar.
“Once, we start manufacturing oxygen concentrators in the state, their price will come down and they will be easily available,” added Kumar.
“This is only possible after we get the technology from the CSIR,” he added.
Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, a unit of the CSIR, has already transferred its technology to manufacture oxygen concentrators to three MSMEs, one each in Kota (Rajasthan), Guwahati and Gurugram (Haryana).
Demand for oxygen concentrators has increased manifold during second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, despite huge demand, companies are not able to ensure availability of concentrators in adequate numbers.
Majority of the oxygen concentrators were being imported from China before the pandemic. Concentrators are helpful in mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 patients.
The MSMEs are also helping the state government is setting up oxygen plants.
The DRDO has transferred its liquid oxygen plant technology to Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, Bengaluru, and Trident Pneumatics Pvt Ltd.
The Trident Pneumatics Pvt Limited, Coimbatore, will install 21 oxygen plants in government hospitals in the state. These plants will be based on the DRDO’s liquid oxygen plant technology.
The union ministry of Petroleum will also install oxygen plants in government hospitals across the state. e project.