Parle-G Biscuit Factory in Buldhana Grinds to a Halt Amid Severe LPG Shortage
A major biscuit manufacturing unit in Maharashtra's Buldhana district has been forced to suspend all production activities due to a critical shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), creating significant uncertainty for hundreds of workers and disrupting supply chains across the region.
Production Suspension Enters Fifth Day
Khamgaon-based Shivangi Bakers, which operates under a job-work arrangement to produce biscuits and cream products for the iconic Parle-G brand, has completely halted manufacturing operations since March 11. The factory's two large industrial ovens, which run exclusively on LPG, have remained idle as the facility struggles to secure adequate gas supplies.
"We are unable to operate since March 11 after LPG supplies were disrupted," confirmed factory owner Abhay Agrawal, highlighting the severity of the supply chain breakdown that has brought production to a standstill.
Massive Production Capacity Affected
The manufacturing unit typically consumes approximately three metric tonnes of LPG daily to sustain its substantial production output. According to Agrawal, the facility normally produces 60 tonnes of Parle-G biscuits and 20 tonnes of strawberry cream products each day, with distribution spanning across the entire Vidarbha region.
Visual evidence of the supply crisis is apparent throughout the factory premises, where numerous empty commercial gas cylinders stand stacked, serving as stark reminders of the operational paralysis gripping the facility.
Workforce of 500 Faces Uncertain Future
The production shutdown has directly impacted more than 500 workers employed at the Shivangi Bakers facility. While management has maintained partial salary payments at 50 percent of normal wages during the initial shutdown period, Agrawal has issued a sobering warning about potential consequences if the disruption continues.
"A prolonged disruption could threaten both the livelihoods of employees and the future of the factory itself," cautioned Agrawal, underscoring the precarious situation facing both workers and the manufacturing enterprise.
Workers Appeal for Government Intervention
Labor representatives have urgently appealed to Maharashtra's Minister of State for Labour and local BJP MLA Akash Fundkar, who is based in Khamgaon, to intervene and help restore stable LPG supplies that would enable the factory to resume normal operations.
Deepak Haridas Sultane, a prominent labor representative, emphasized the critical need for immediate government action, stating that "immediate government intervention is necessary to prevent a prolonged shutdown" that would have devastating consequences for the local economy and workforce.
Broader Implications for Regional Industry
The production stoppage at this key Parle-G manufacturing facility highlights the vulnerability of industrial operations to disruptions in essential fuel supplies. As one of the region's significant employers and a crucial link in the Parle-G supply chain, the continued shutdown of Shivangi Bakers could potentially affect biscuit availability across Vidarbha while creating economic hardship for hundreds of families dependent on the factory for their livelihoods.
The situation underscores the interconnected nature of industrial production, energy supply stability, and regional economic health, with workers, management, and local officials now anxiously awaiting a resolution to the LPG supply crisis.
