Ensure O2 plants don’t divert supply, Drugs Controller told

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, May 2

In a bid to check pilferage of medical oxygen from manufacturing plants, Solan Deputy Commissioner (DC) KC Chaman today directed the State Drugs Controller (SDC) to ensure that the three plants in the Baddi and Barotiwala belt do not divert it for non-medical purposes.

“The SDC will also ensure that the state receives its share of 15 metric tonne (MT) of liquid oxygen from Inox Air Products from its total production of 120 MT to ensure that critical patients were not left bereft of this key commodity,” he said.

Since manufacturers like Himalayan Gases, Indo Gases and Shivalik Gases, who secure their refills from Inox Air Products, are bound to supply oxygen to the state, the officials will monitor their manufacturing and supply as per the guidelines.

Chaman added that since these gas manufacturers are licensed by the drug control administration, the officials are supposed to ensure that industrial houses like steel and iron industries and others do not use oxygen at this critical juncture.

The Nalagarh Sub Divisional Magistate (SDM) was also directed by the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that MM Medical College at Kumarhatti, ESIC, Katha, and the makeshift hospital at Nalagarh were provided 200, 100 and 50 oxygen cylinders, respectively, from oxygen manufacturers in Baddi and Barotiwala.

A mapping of 384 oxygen cylinders has been done by the SDM till May 1.

In a bid to ensure optimum utilisation and mobilisation of liquid medical oxygen, the DC directed all industries, individuals, commercial units, firms, retailers etc. having any stock of oxygen cylinders, regulators, flowmeter, humidifier and oxygen canunula to declare their status within 24 hours before the SDM concerned.

Officials have been directed to inspect all stores in their jurisdiction and confiscate unauthorised cylinders.

Nalagarh SDM Mahinder Pal said about 500 empty cylinders had been collected from various industries, including those who had voluntarily offered them.

“Data of cylinders would be compared with GST returns and those found concealing the cylinders would be taken to task,” added the SDM.

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