Assam industries and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Thursday visited two industrial units – Sun Pharma, Palashbari and ITC, Rampur to inspect the compliance of COVID-19 safety norms.

These units are manufacturing essential medicines and essential food commodities respectively.

The representatives of Sun Pharma informed the minister that the health and safety of its employees is the plant’s top priority and has been practicing safety precautions like social distancing, thermal screening, sanitization of staff buses, foot sanitization at entrance, attendance through access card, zig zag sitting arrangement inside the plant etc.

Expressing satisfaction at the implementation of the standard operating procedures at Sun Pharma, Patowary assured full support to address any issue or problem faced by the plant.

He also expressed happiness in learning the fact that the next new plant of Sun Pharma would be set up in Assam.

“We are expecting that more MNCs will follow Sun Pharma in the State,” said Patowary.

The minister further added that 764 industries have been permitted to reopen.

Till date 25,991 workers have been engaged in these industrial units, that is an average of 35 workers in each industry.

783 big tea gardens and 1.18 lakh small tea gardens have been reopened.

508 tea factories and 296 bought-leaf factories are re-operating in the State.

7.33 lakh workers are being engaged in the big tea gardens and three lakh workers are being engaged in the small tea gardens.

Regular visits are being made by the department officers for ensuring compliance of COVID-19 guidelines in the industrial units.

The authorities expressed gratefulness to the State Government and department officials for extending all support in smooth functioning of the pharmaceutical industry in this difficult time.

As part of its COVID-19 relief efforts, Sun Pharma has distributed hand sanitizers, masks at police stations, gaon panchayat offices, and has undertaken cleaning and sanitization of road and shops around Mirza-Palashbari road with Fire and Emergency team.

Sun Pharma, has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Guwahati with an investment of Rs 695 crores manufacturing tablets, injections, eye drops and other life-saving drugs.

It has a capacity of producing 25 crore tablets and capsules and 15 crore injectable per month.

It caters to all the domestic markets of India and that of Nepal and Myanmar.

It employs 850 people at the Guwahati site, out of which less than 50 per cent of the work force are currently working.

Patowary also visited the ITC plant at Rampur on Thursday.

The authorities informed the minister that the food factory has 1220 employees working in all lines on normal days.

However, 180 to 220 are working in the present situation.

The food factory has also undertaken proper sanitization at the snacks, biscuits and soap production facilities and equipment.

The minister also inspected the production facility unit to check theexecution of safety standards.

The unit also handed its produced juice of 15 KL of amount of Rs 10 lakh to the industry department for onward distribution in relief of needy people across Assam.

ITC, Rampur has invested Rs. 267.70 cores with a capacity of 3,420 tons per month.

Dr K K Dwivedi, commissioner and secretary of Industries and Commerce Department; Oinam Sarankumar, commissioner and MD, AIDC and other senior officials accompanied the minister.