During the corona period, the brass statue and hardware business of Aligarh have suffered a major loss. Due to the dwindling demand for hardware and statues and the shortage of oxygen gas has shocked the businessmen. Three plants of the city are not refilling the gas cylinder due to a shortage of liquid due to which 80 percent manufacturing unit of brass sculptures are closed, more than 1000 welding units are also closed including small ones.
Due to the absence of welding, the factories of wright, Polish, etc are also not getting orders. Some profiteer dealers and plant operators are selling 350 rupees oxygen cylinders for up to 1200 rupees. There is tremendous black marketing of oxygen cylinders. Despite having information, the administrative officers are not taking any action.
There is a shortage of oxygen cylinders used in industrial units since 24th August. Oxygen gas is used in Hardware, Brass & Silver idols, Statue, Fridge, AC, and other job works, for this the factories of the city need 3000 cylinders daily. Now the supply is shrunken to only 10% which affects the idol and hardware business.
These units are used to get cylinders from the refilling plant in the city. The operators of these 3 refilling plants in the city prepared oxygen from the liquid. There was no lack of oxygen in the industries and healthy service till the last week of August but with the increasing corona patients, oxygen demand also shoots up.
The brass idols and hardware are a multi-million business of the city. The brass idol business has an annual turnover of Rs 500 crores while the annual turnover of the hardware business is Rs 20,000 crores.
A 10 cubic meter capacity oxygen cylinders are generally used in the industries which cost Rs 350, but this cylinder sold on 1st September in Rs 550. After 6 days, it was sold at an elevated price of Rs 450 and a few days later its price increased to Rs 1000. Dealers also billed the same amount of money without fear. There were also complaints about less gas in many cylinders.
Idol manufacturer Kapil Varshney said that he bought 2 cylinders from his hardware business friend for Rs 2400. He further said that orders have to be completed and delivered before Navratri. There is tremendous black marketing on the name of the oxygen gas shortage. Cylinders are being sold from different places rather then godown.
Job worker Lokesh Sharma said that he is doing job work and not getting the cylinder for the last 3 days but today he bought Rs 350 cylinder in Rs 1200 and that too without any bill. The administration is not paying attention. Thousands of workers have become unemployed due to the closure of the factories.
Deputy Commissioner Industries, Srinath Paswan told that the government issued an order to supply cylinders to the health sector on priority. District Magistrate and Divisional Commissioner have been informed that industries are not getting oxygen. Had discussions with businessmen as well. Modi Nagar plant will be going to start from 1st Oct, after that we are hoping to get enough and uninterrupted supply.
Refilling plant owner Suresh Chandra told that plants preparing oxygen gas for industries are not getting liquid for refilling. We also have business relationships with businessmen. Since the last days, there has been a rift in these relations. The rate of Liquid has been increased up to 3 times. The administration should interfere in this matter.
Vipin Bihari Gupta, Director of the brass statue and hardware manufacturers and supplier association said that festivals like Navratri and Diwali are near. The market is already affected badly due to the corona pandemic and now we are battling for oxygen. The livelihood of thousands of people got affected. 80% of production is already stopped.
