Sanitiser production goes up in Karnataka

BENGALURU: The production of hand sanitisers in Karnataka has jumped from just 2,000 litres per day to 50,000 litres. But the massive demand triggered by the outbreak of coronavirus continues to outstrip supply.


According to officials of the state drugs control department, the current daily demand stands at 2 lakh litres. In the initial days of the Covid-19 crisis, the demand was about 5 lakh litres per day.

The production in Karnataka increased after the BS Yediyurappa government issued licences to 37 distilleries to produce the hand rub to offset losses resulting from the 21-day nationwide lockdown. These licences have a limited validity.

Currently, 95 entities are manufacturing it in the state, up from just 11 before coronavirus.

“The decision to grant licences was a godsend for the liquor industry, which was staring at huge losses. We are also doing our bit to support the government in its efforts to check the spread of the virus,” said Ashik B Shamanur, executive director, Shamanur Sugar, a major liquor manufacturer.

Shamnur Sugar, along with its sister concern Shamanur Pharma, now produces at least 2,000 litres of hand sanitiser a day, and Ashik said the units were looking to scale up production to 6,000 litres per day.

The company is marketing hand rub in various packs, from 100-ml sachets to 10-litre bottles. Sales of the product account for 15% of its current revenue.

“We have been able to engage 50 per cent of our employees, who would otherwise have been jobless because of the lockdown,” Ashik said. The company is also supplying free hand sanitisers as part of its corporate social responsibility, or CSR.

Rakshit Neelakanta Jagadale, executive director of Amrut Distilleries Pvt Ltd, said his company had contributed over 2,000 litres under CSR.

“It’s a great opportunity to serve society. So far, our members have supplied about 28,000 litres through CSR initiatives,” said Shivalingaiah of the Karnataka Breweries and Distilleries Association.

Additional drug controller Amaresh Tumbagi said it was a win-win situation for the government and distillers. “We need more quantities of hand sanitiser and they need business to tide over huge losses,” Tumbagi said.