Aurangabad, March 1:
The divisional administration, six months ago, had decided to become self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) in producing liquid oxygen to save Covid-19 patients during an emergency. However, the production could not be started without the installation of machines imported from China.
Two each oxygen plants will be constructed in Aurangabad, Jalna and Parbhani. The process of shortlisting the contractors had been completed, but the required machinery would be received in three or three and a half months from China, it is learnt.
According to sources, the divisional commissioner Sunil Kendrekar had instructed the deputy commissioner concerned to seek information from the collectors of Aurangabad and Parbhani on the status of oxygen plants to be constructed (two each) in Aurangabad (at District Civil Hospital and Meltron Covid Care Centre) and Parbhani (Zilla Parishad and ITI campuses). He also instructed him to ensure that the alarm system is installed when the remaining stock of oxygen in the tank is 30 per cent.
The administration concern strives to get starting at least one plant as it would be of great help, and there would be no need to request for delivery of oxygen to the manufacturers from Chakan and Raigad. Hence persuasion is being done strongly with the respective local self-bodies and the contractors in this regard. The administration decided to become self-reliant after experiencing an acute shortage of oxygen during August and September 2020.
100-200 MT production!
The decision to start oxygen plants was taken six months ago. The aim is to manufacture a quantity of 100-200 metric tones (MT) of liquid oxygen at these six plants. Meanwhile, the administration concerned is busy obtaining permissions from various government departments, getting power supply connections, etc. The oxygen plants in Maharashtra are at Pune, Raigad and Buti Bori (Nagpur).