Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 8: In order to augment the Medical oxygen supply in Kashmir, the Industries Department is making efforts to make two defunct oxygen manufacturing units functional as the spike in COVID-19 cases continued in the Valley.
Director Industries Kashmir, Nazim Zia Khan, told Excelsior that the department is helping two small oxygen manufacturing units which are lying defunct to re-start oxygen manufacturing as there is demand for medical oxygen due to a spike in the COVID-19 cases.
Khan said that ND Gas Rangreth having a daily capacity of 570 cubic metre and Barkat Gas with 70 metre cubic capacity are being made functional soon. “They have liabilities of the PDD and we are getting that waived in order to make these two units functional as soon as possible”, he said.
He said that as there is great demand for the medical oxygen in Kashmir due to a spike in COVID-19 cases they are making sure that the four oxygen manufacturing plants in the Valley are running round the clock. “All the four plants including Mian Gas, Stealth Oxygen company Khonmoh and JK Gas Rangreth are running at full capacities these days”, he said.
Khan said that they are ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to these plants so that they run at full capacity. “All these plants are running in three shifts and they are manufacturing 17200 cubic metre oxygen daily for medical use”, he said.
He added that besides the hospitals the medical oxygen is being supplied to the NGOs and individuals. “After the order by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar disallowing the oxygen supply to the NGOs and private societies, we took up the matter with him and now they are also getting the medical oxygen from these plants”, he added.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Ajaz Asad told Excelsior that an order issued early this week about stopping oxygen re-fill to the NGOs and private societies was issued to prevent the misuse of oxygen. “We had reports that some oxygen cylinders were being used for non-medical purposes so we issued the order for streamlining oxygen distribution so that COVID-19 patients don’t suffer”, he said.
He said that the oxygen distribution was only streamlined so that there is no misuse. “The NGOs, the private societies and individuals are getting oxygen refills as usual but it is being monitored”, he added.
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