Oxygen supply to some Lko units restored

: Industries in the state are carrying out an audit of oxygen requirements of MSME units even as the government is planning to restore oxygen supply to industrial units across Uttar Pradesh.

In the state capital, oxygen supply to some units was restored on Tuesday.

Following a request from the state government, industrial units across the state had returned oxygen cylinders to suppliers last month after the second wave of Covid -19 intensified and the demand for oxygen had increased manifold across the state. All this oxygen was diverted to hospitals for medical use.

Now, when the supply of oxygen has normalised and its demand has gone down, the state government has decided to restore oxygen supply to industrial units in a phased manner.

Industry lobby bodies are carrying out an audit of oxygen requirement of MSME units to apprise the government about the exact requirement of oxygen required. This report will be submitted to the state government to resume oxygen supply to these units in a phased manner.

Industrialists have been requesting the state government to restore oxygen supply to industries which are solely dependent on it for their running.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had stated in a meeting on Monday that the oxygen supply of industries must be restored

to ensure their smooth functioning.

The Indian Industries Association (IIA) has issued a circular to all its members across the state seeking details about industrial units that are dependent on oxygen supply.

“These MSME details will be handed over to the state government for assessment of oxygen requirement of industries in the state,” said Manmohan Agarwal, senior president, IIA.

Oxygen is required in high quantities in industrial units such as steel rolling plants, fabricating units, those manufacturing cooling towers, boilers and other such units.