Swelect Energy Systems Limited, a solar photovoltaic module manufacturing company, has resumed operations at its unit in Bangalore with effect from April 25, 2020.

Given the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown announced by the government, the company had closed the operation of its units at Bangalore and Salem from March 24, 2020.

According to the company’s BSE (formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange) filing, the company had issued a letter on March 25, 2020, about the closure of the operation of its facilities located in Bangalore and Salem following the lockdown.

The company states that to execute a project for the Airport Authority of India (AAI), it later requested the office of the Department of Industries Center (DIC) to permit it to run their facility with a skeletal staff as per the Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines.

“As per the directions issued by the joint director, Department of Industries Center, Bangalore, the company has been permitted to resume its operation after following the guidelines issued by the central government during the COVID-19 pandemic,” states the company.

Similarly, Inox Wind Limited has also resumed operations at three of its manufacturing units located at Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Barwani (Madhya Pradesh), and Una (Himachal Pradesh).

According to the company’s BSE filing, Inox resumed operations in three of its manufacturing projects after obtaining the required permission from the concerned district administrations.

The company states that operations resumed in these three facilities in compliance with all the safety guidelines and directives issued by the central and state governments, and local administration to safeguard the employees, laborers, and all other stakeholders to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On March 26, 2020, Inox Wind had issued a letter informing the temporary suspension of the operations at its three manufacturing units.

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued its revised guidelines allowing selected additional activities to keep the wheels of the economy turning. The new guidelines came into effect from April 20, 2020. According to the MHA, construction works, including that of renewable energy projects, were to be allowed from April 20, 2020.

In March 2020, Mercom reported that the Ministry of Power requested the administrations of all states and union territories to allow staff and vendors of power generation and transmission units to perform their duties. The Ministry had stated that considering the present scenario, there’s a need to ensure the availability and continuity of the transmission network for the smooth flow of power generation.

Earlier, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had requested that the renewable generating stations’ staff and associated workforce should be allowed to move, and the movement of material should be allowed at such sites or substations, and transmission lines with the minimum workforce. To maintain uninterrupted power supply across states, power generation (including renewable power generation) is designated as an essential service.

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.