Parle-G biscuit production halts at Khamgaon unit

Buldhana: Khamgaon-based Shivangi Bakers, which manufactures biscuits and cream products for the Parle-G brand under a job-work arrangement, has suspended production for the past five days due to acute shortage of LPG.According to factory owner Abhay Agrawal, the factory has two large industrial ovens that run completely on LPG. We are unable to operate since March 11 after LPG supplies were disrupted," he said.The shutdown has directly impacted more than 500 workers employed at the facility. While the management is currently paying workers half their salaries, Agrawal warned that a prolonged disruption could threaten both the livelihoods of employees and the future of the factory.The unit typically consumes around three metric tonnes of LPG per day for producing Parle-G biscuits and cream products. "The unit makes 60 tonne Parle-G biscuits and 20-tonne strawberry cream daily. The biscuits are distributed across Vidarbha," said Agrawal. Several empty commercial gas cylinders were seen stacked inside the premises, indicating the supply crunch.Workers' representatives have appealed to Maharashtra's minister of state for labour and local BJP MLA Akash Fundkar, who is based in Khamgaon, to help restore gas supplies so that operations can resume.Labour representative Deepak Haridas Sultane said immediate govt intervention is necessary to prevent a prolonged shutdown.