As Hindustan Syringes' plants face closure, Health Ministry seeks exemption

Haryana Pollution Control board has asked India's largest syringe maker to shut its Faridabad plants. Company denies pollution charges, says it uses piped natural gas

The Union Health Ministry on Saturday took cognizance of the Haryana Pollution Control Board's voluntary closure notice to Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices Ltd (HMD) and has sought relief. The ministry sought an exemption for factories producing essential and critical medicines and devices.

The company operates three factories in Faridabad in Haryana and provides 66 per cent of syringes used in the country. HMD’s factories are among the 228 factories that have been asked to voluntarily shut down as a part of the pollution control drive by the Haryana government.

The health ministry, headed by Mansukh Mandaviya, swung into action as closure