Special team formed to make industries follow SOPs
| Date :20-Jun-2020 |
Business Bureau :
The Special team of officers will be conducting surprise visits at the units
In view of current development of coronavirus infections taking place in Hingna Industrial Area, and the risk of spreading it to other industries, Nagpur District Collector Ravindra Thakare had called meeting recently at his office along with other Government officials. The office-bearers of leading industries associations were also present. In the meeting, Thakare said, “All industries should follow strictly all standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines issued by Government to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the industrial areas”. To ensure that all units are following these norms and adhering to social distancing and other SOPs, he had formed the Special Team of officers who will be visiting the various industries to personally verify that all the instructions mentioned in SOPs are followed or not. The Special Team will be conducting surprise visits at the industrial units.
Thakare said, “All members of the respective industrial associations are instructed to cooperate with the Special Team of officers and comply with the all guidelines and SOPs in letter as well as spirit”. The Collector also assured industries that this is not for any inconvenience but to maintain the healthiness of all the people. Thakare further said that, in case any employee shows symptoms of being positive of coronavirus, employers are advised to report it to Tahsildar office. In case employee is found positive, concerned unit may be asked by the authorities to keep it closed for maximum 3 days.
During this time the authorities in consultation with employer will trace positive employee contacts to quarantine them and allow the units to resume its operation. “With Government enforcing Unlock-1 since June 1, 2020 to give boost to economy, the COVID-19 positive cases are on the rise and have already entered industries in MIDC through employees residing in the nearby areas. Around 60 employees from Hingna MIDC are quarantined out of which 14 are reported to be positive,” said Chandrashekhar Shegaonkar, President of MIDC Industries Association (MIA), Hingna.
He further said that industries in Nagpur District are fully cooperating with district administration since the lockdown was imposed on March 25. As per the Government direction, initially all the industries except essential services pulled down their shutters and then started partially opening from April 20. “As on date almost 2,500 industries have started operating in Nagpur district with 50% to 60% capacity. “Although we may face shortage of labour in time to come if migrant labour do not return. But we are trying to recruit local labour in industries by providing them initial training,” he said. He further said that the Joint Director Industries, GM of DIC and Department of Employment Exchange and Skill Development are coordinating their efforts by mapping together industries and the ‘Mahaswayam’ portal. The associations namely MIA, BMA, KIA and VIA have appealed to all industries to strictly follow the SOPs for COVID-19 laid down by the Government. Pradeep Khandelwal, President of BMA and Suresh Rathi, President of VIA and others were present in the meeting.