Ludhiana: A day after The Times of India raised the issue of surgical mask manufacturers facing the problem of huge unsold stock and asking the Centre to allow export of their products, especially the three-ply masks, the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises has swung into action.
The ministry has shot off letters to the three-ply and two-ply mask manufacturers, seeking inputs like production and export capacities and surplus stock till July 8. The details will be submitted to the authorities to enable them to lift the export ban.
Gurpreet Singh Kahlon, member, MSME board, said, “After receiving representations from the surgical mask manufacturers, information is being gathered from them about the surplus stocks. In addition to this, availability of melt blown fabric is also being checked in India and the manufacturers of the fabric, too, have been conveyed to report any surplus. The information from all the stakeholders should reach the offices of MSME by July 8, so that consolidated details can be submitted to the authorities concerned to enable them to lift the export ban.”
Hailing the development, Harish Kairpal, finance secretary of Knitwear Club and a three-ply mask manufacturer, said, “This is a welcome initiative and we are thankful to TOI for highlighting the issue. If the exports are allowed, manufacturers can be saved from facing losses of lakhs of rupees. The surplus and fall in demand and rates of three-ply masks have caused a problem for us, especially at a time when local sales have gone to zero. Export is the only option we have now.”
Ashwani Garg, another mask manufacturer from the city, said, “This development will benefit hundreds of mask manufacturers, as the market for three-ply surgical masks had taken a hit due to a huge drop in rate and demand due to oversupply. There is no harm if export of surgical masks is allowed in a systematic way by ensuring that adequate quantity is available for the domestic market too.”
Source:- timesofindia.indiatimes.com