Tata Motors is running operations at its Pune plant with a limited number of workmen in compliance with the guidelines announced by the government of Maharashtra. The Pune plants makes Harrier, Safari, trucks and buses.
"Tata Motors is running operations at its Pune plant in strict compliance with the guidelines mentioned in the ‘Break the Chain’ order of the Maharashtra government. A limited number of employees are attending duties adhering to all safety protocols, distancing norms and hygiene standards", Tata Motors said in a statement.
As per a letter dated April 14 Tata Motors had taken a call to shut vehicle manufacturing operations at the Pune plant from April 15 and will keep them shut till April 30. The letter was addressed to the MIDC police station in Bhosari, Pune.
"We continue to remain vigilant about the safety and wellbeing of our employees. In addition to mandated testing, screening at plant gates is robust and if a symptomatic case is identified, we ensure that the employee is isolated and provided with all support for quarantine and contact tracing thereafter. Our medical teams have also begun vaccination drives in our plants by collaborating with local health authorities, for our eligible employees of age 45 years and above", the company added.
Its earlier letter had sought permission from the local police to allow ferrying of employees for maintaining essential services operational within the plant. These services are related to dispensary, DG set operation, fire fighting, water supplies, 22Kv substation, security vigilance and effluent treatment plants.
As of April 14, Pune district had the highest number COVID-19 active cases in all of Maharashtra. As per PIB Maharashtra, Pune district had 112,213 active cases and had seen 7887 new cases on April 14. It remained one of the worst affected cities in the country.
Maharashtra houses no less than a dozen automotive plants, including those of Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Volkswagen, Bajaj Auto, Skoda Auto, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, Fiat Chrysler, Piaggio Vehicles and Force Motors.
In addition, there are at least six construction equipment producing plants that make cranes, road levellers and excavators, as well as some tractor making units and several auto parts plants that make tyres, windshields, and steering mechanisms to name a few.
On April 13, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government announced a lockdown notification in the state, which included guidelines for the manufacturing sector. As per the notification manufacturing units can be kept operational but with a reduced workforce.
This story has been updated incorporating the response from Tata Motors
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