The fuel crisis and supply chain disruptions coupled with increase in packaging and raw material costs over the past week due to the raging conflict in West Asia have hit the industry in Haryana across all sectors.
A large number of textile, food processing, pharmaceutical and agricultural implements units in Panipat, Sonipat, and Karnal rely on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to run industrial boilers for dyeing, heating, and sterilisation. Most of these units are on the verge of shutting down operations, Manoj Arora, secretary, Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI), told The Hindu.
“The cost of commercial LPG cylinders rose by around 20% over the past few days. It is not available since yesterday [Tuesday],” Mr. Arora said.
He recalled making several frantic calls to arrange a few commercial LPG cylinders for his industrialist friend in urgent need of the fuel to meet the deadline for an export assignment, but failed to get any.
He expressed apprehension about most industrial units in the National Capital Region (NCR) that run on LPG being forced to shut down in case supply does not improve over the next two-three days. He said almost half of the textile units in Panipat were shut for periodic maintenance, else the impact would have been wider.
