Maharashtra will now produce up to 2 lakh litres of hand sanitizers daily as the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has given the approval to distilleries and sugar factories for production. Some of the sugar factories in the state including Vasantdada Patil Cooperative Sugar Factory in Sangli, Rajarambapu Cooperative Sugar Factory in Islampur and Kolhapur Cooperative Sugar Factory have already scaled up production and launched the supply of hand sanitizers.
Whereas Yedeshwari Cooperative Sugar Factory in Beed along with some other factories are in the midst to soon start the production of hand sanitizers.
Talking about the same, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar told FPJ, "There are about 80 sugar factories with distilleries who have responded positively to the government’s call to start manufacturing of hand sanitizers in the wake of coronavirus pandemic spread in the state. The production of hand sanitizers by sugar factories and distilleries will certainly help meet the gap between demand and supply. They will produce hand sanitizers as per the health ministry’s parameters."
He also said that the factories and distilleries have been directed to use 70 per cent alcohol along with glycerin and water to produce hand sanitizers and supply in 100 ml and 1-litre bottles.
The move will not only help meet the demand of the hand sanitizers in the market but also bring down the sale of adulterated hand sanitizers. Pawar had said that the government is taking strict action against the people involved in the sale of adulterated hand sanitizers and its black marketing and hoarding. There have been several such instances after the coronavirus outbreak in the country, and ever since then, FDA Maharashtra has been conducting raids across the state to bust these rackets.
Meanwhile, close to 50 sugar mills in India have created sanitizer capacities totalling 100,000 litres per day with the majority producing roughly 2,000 litres each.
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