Industrial body to set up India’s first Oxygen Cylinder Bank 

New Delhi. In its bid to address the acute shortage of Oxygen cylinders in the market, the Delhi NCR’s apex industrial body IMT Manesar Industrial Association has decided to commission India’s first Cylinder Bank to ensure a smooth and free-of-cost supply of oxygen to the COVID-19 patients in the region.

For this, it has issued an appeal to the industrial units using oxygen cylinders for manufacturing, fabrication, welding, and other processes to contribute their cylinders for the proposed Cylinder Bank.

IMT Manesar Industrial Association has been instrumental in arranging over 20,000 liters of Oxygen from Manesar-based Star Special Air Gas free-of-cost to the needy ones in the last few days.

In his appeal to the industrial units, Manoj Tyagi, the General Secretary, IMT Manesar Industrial Association said that the units that were into the business of welding, fabrication, etc are requested to approach the association and offer their empty cylinders for the proposed Cylinder Bank on returnable-basis.

“We would take these empty cylinders and get it filled from various sources and supply direct to the hospitals and individuals at their homes free-of-cost. And we would return these cylinders to their owners when the situation normalizes,” said Tyagi.

In the last few days, the association coordinated with Star Special Air Gas and handed over 10,000 liters of oxygen to Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Dr. Yash Garg to be further distributed to private and government hospitals so that this oxygen can be used to save the lives of Corona patients.

Pawan Yadav, President, IMT Manesar Industrial Association said that Star Special Air Gas also distributed oxygen to hundreds of people from Delhi and NCR towns at their premises without charging a penny from them.

“However, we have decided to make a strategic shift in the free distribution of the oxygen as we smelled that the gas was being black marketed by some of the people. Therefore, we have decided those who need oxygen will have to get the requirement from the hospital where their kin is admitted. For this, we have issued a performa, which the hospital will address to the Star Special Air Gas,” Pawan Yadav added.

IMT Industrial Association President said that the entrepreneurs and Industrial Association was always standing with the society as they feel their social responsibility towards people in general.

Deepak Shami, managing director of Star Special Air Gas, said that if we can ever come to work in saving someone’s life, then that day will be the biggest for me.  Today, the country is going through this epidemic, if any of our efforts can save the lives of hundreds of people and it will not be a big thing for my life, I think my life has become meaningful.”