Panel to check hoarding of oxygen cylinders

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 2

Amid a steep rise in the demand for medical oxygen and some industrial units still withholding empty or filled cylinders despite appeal by the district administration, District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma today formed an 11-member committee to inspect and collect the cylinders.

The District Magistrate said the committee would be headed by GLADA chief administrator Parminder Singh Gill. It members are ADCP Jaskaran Singh Teja, PPCB SE Sandeep Behal, PPCB Executive Engineer Manohar Lal, Deputy Director (Factories) SS Bhatti, Assistant Labour Commissioner Baljeet Singh and five other officials.

He said apart from GLADA chief administrator Parminder Singh Gill and ADCP Jaskaran Singh Teja, other members would also work as executive magistrates and would have the power to inspect any industry.

He said in case any factory/industrial unit denies to let the committee check its premises, the panel would have the power to open the locks for inspection.

The Deputy Commissioner said the committee would take the cylinders seized during checking in their possession and maintain a record of factories indulging in malpractices. He said after issuing the cylinders to distributors, the stock register would also be kept so that whenever the pandemic was over, these cylinders could be returned.

Sharma appealed to the owners of all factories/industries to give utmost support to the committee. He said those who would hamper its functioning would face strict legal action.

‘GLADA Chief Administrator to head committee’

District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said the committee would be headed by GLADA chief administrator Parminder Singh Gill. It members are ADCP Jaskaran Singh Teja, PPCB SE Sandeep Behal, PPCB Executive Engineer Manohar Lal, Deputy Director (Factories) SS Bhatti, Assistant Labour Commissioner Baljeet Singh and five other officials.