NEW DELHI: Summer’s here and the mercury is nudging 40 degrees Celsius, but India’s biggest air-conditioning and refrigeration hub at Daryaganj is still lying shut.
Traders said 60% of their annual business occurs during this season through which they cater to not only domestic consumers, but cold storage units for safe procurement of agricultural produce, patient care centres and deep freezing requirements of medical establishments.
Ashok Sahdev, who heads Delhi Refrigeration Airconditioning Traders’ Association (RATA), narrated how a Noida hospital was in need of R404 refrigerant gas for their equipment, but they couldn’t help. “I told them to look for it in Noida, but they couldn’t find a solution there. Their critical machine got ruined. Refrigeration is not only about comfort,” he added.
Freon gas and components used in refrigeration are mostly brought from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Manesar. While there are around 600 refrigeration shops across the city, 250 traders are concentrated in Daryaganj. The peak trading season is from March to May.
“All the retail outlets are closed for a month. The gas, compressors and components that are supplied by us are critical requirements for labs and hospitals too. Some drugs and samples are stored at -20 degrees Celsius. There is no backup right now,” Sahdev said, adding that spare parts are not available online.
Freon gas is critical for air-conditioning and used in the compressors of cars, refrigerators, cooling units, deep freezers, cold storage and temperature control units. While smaller dealers supply around 15-20 tonnes of this gas, the larger units use 200-300 tonnes.
Tejpal Singh, another trader from Daryaganj, said that transportation of gas has halted and shops are not being allowed to operate.
The association said they are not being allowed to cater to emergency calls even though there is no shortage of gas right now. Hemant Bablani, vice-president of RATA, said operation theaters need temperature control and don’t have backup in place at present. “This is the time when most of the repairing and refilling occurs. Our industry has been hit really hard,” he added.
Bablani said the industry was put in white goods category and not essential items despite repeated representations to the authorities. “We are getting frantic calls from patients who need temperature control in their houses. How do we help them?” he asked.
RATA also argued that if plasma therapy is found successful, the cooling industry’s help would be required for large-scale storage. “The relaxations should also include transportation of gases as the demand is likely to jump after the lockdown is lifted. The current stock will be over in 10 days. How will the next lot come?” asked Bablani.
Traders said 60% of their annual business occurs during this season through which they cater to not only domestic consumers, but cold storage units for safe procurement of agricultural produce, patient care centres and deep freezing requirements of medical establishments.
Ashok Sahdev, who heads Delhi Refrigeration Airconditioning Traders’ Association (RATA), narrated how a Noida hospital was in need of R404 refrigerant gas for their equipment, but they couldn’t help. “I told them to look for it in Noida, but they couldn’t find a solution there. Their critical machine got ruined. Refrigeration is not only about comfort,” he added.
Freon gas and components used in refrigeration are mostly brought from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Manesar. While there are around 600 refrigeration shops across the city, 250 traders are concentrated in Daryaganj. The peak trading season is from March to May.
“All the retail outlets are closed for a month. The gas, compressors and components that are supplied by us are critical requirements for labs and hospitals too. Some drugs and samples are stored at -20 degrees Celsius. There is no backup right now,” Sahdev said, adding that spare parts are not available online.
Freon gas is critical for air-conditioning and used in the compressors of cars, refrigerators, cooling units, deep freezers, cold storage and temperature control units. While smaller dealers supply around 15-20 tonnes of this gas, the larger units use 200-300 tonnes.
Tejpal Singh, another trader from Daryaganj, said that transportation of gas has halted and shops are not being allowed to operate.
The association said they are not being allowed to cater to emergency calls even though there is no shortage of gas right now. Hemant Bablani, vice-president of RATA, said operation theaters need temperature control and don’t have backup in place at present. “This is the time when most of the repairing and refilling occurs. Our industry has been hit really hard,” he added.
Bablani said the industry was put in white goods category and not essential items despite repeated representations to the authorities. “We are getting frantic calls from patients who need temperature control in their houses. How do we help them?” he asked.
RATA also argued that if plasma therapy is found successful, the cooling industry’s help would be required for large-scale storage. “The relaxations should also include transportation of gases as the demand is likely to jump after the lockdown is lifted. The current stock will be over in 10 days. How will the next lot come?” asked Bablani.
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