The Uttar Pradesh government stepped up production of sanitisers in its fight against coronavirus, nearly doubling the manufacturing capacity to over 82,000 litres per day.
Currently, 62 industrial units are commercially producing hand sanitisers in the state, of which 26 are dedicated hand sanitiser manufacturing plants. Besides, there are 23 sugar mills, 10 standalone distilleries and three independent entities which have set up similar facilities to cater to the demand of sanitisers after the advisory of Union and state governments.
“These 62 companies together are producing 82,250 litres of hand sanitiser on daily basis. So far, these units have manufactured 0.57 million litres of hand sanitiser, of which nearly 2,90,000 litres, corresponding to almost a million packed units, have already been supplied in the market,” a senior official of UP Sugarcane department said.
Earlier, UP-based private sugar mills had applied for necessary licences to manufacture hand sanitiser at their captive distilleries. These include all major private sugar mills viz. Balrampur Chini, Birla, Dalmia, Dhampur, Uttam etc. units.
Acknowledging the surging demand and consequent short supply of sanitisers in the market, the Yogi Adityanath government simultaneously speeded up the process of granting licences while exempting the movement of industrial input and finished products related to hand sanitiser.
While some sugar mills are presently producing hand sanitiser in bulk for supply to other firms for bottling and marketing, some have firmed up contracts to supply ethanol/ethyl alcohol/extra neutral alcohol (ENA) to other sanitiser units inside and outside the state.
In March, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) had written to the Centre, assuring that domestic sugar industry would supply adequate quantities of ethanol or extra neutral alcohol (ENA) as per requirement for use in manufacture of hand sanitisers.
While hand sanitisers are generally manufactured with isopropyl alcohol (IPA), they have been found equally effective if made from ethanol/ethyl alcohol/ENA, which are essentially sugar by-products.
Sources in ISMA said that the Central and UP departments, including sugar, excise, drug controllers, have worked in perfect sync which resulted in speedier sanctions of licences for hand sanitiser manufacturing in India.
Against the backdrop of rising cane arrears, additional supply of ethanol and hand sanitiser by private mills have opened up another revenue stream for them even as the nation-wide lockdown to control coronavirus is to April 14.
The need to start production of sanitisers in Uttar Pradesh was necessitated by the fact that most of the sanitiser companies are based in Gujarat from where it is being supplied.
“The government is all out to promote sanitiser industry in the state and extend all help in setting up manufacturing units. After the lockdown is lifted, the government is expecting more companies to apply for licence for manufacturing sanitisers,” said Industrial Development Minister Satish Mahana.