By: Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar: As the Union Government is aiming at ramping up its medical oxygen production capacity to 15,000 tonnes per day in the country in view of the predicted third wave of Covid-19, Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha has directed the officials to enhance medical oxygen generation capacity to 90,000 LPM in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir, currently generates around 88,600 LPM of medical oxygen, while the government so far has approved around 1,03,000 LPM oxygen generating units.
Officials said that under the Health and Medical Education scheme state capex budget, a total of 37 oxygen generation units were approved, of which 34 plants are installed and are generating 31,375 LPM of medical oxygen and remaining three units are going to be installed soon.
“Under PM Care three oxygen generation units of 100 LPM capacity are installed and one unit of 500 LPM is installed at Super Specialty Hospital Srinagar under CSR initiative,” officials said.
The officials further said that under PM Care/DRDO NHM, a total of 13 oxygen generation plants are approved which has the capacity of generating 12,250 LPM of medical oxygen, out of which 11 units of 1000 LPM are installed and operational.
According to an official in Jammu province, around 47,800 LPM of medical oxygen was approved of which 30,000 LPM of medical oxygen is being currently generated.
While as SKIMS Soura and SKIMS JVC, a total of 8,250 LPM of medical oxygen generating units were approved, of which SKIMS Soura is currently generating 5750 LPM, with another unit of 1000 LPM tested is to be operationalized soon taking the total oxygen generating capacity to 6750 LPM. Similarly, SKIMS JVC is currently generating 1500 LPM of medical oxygen.
According to the official figures Kashmir is currently generating around 58,600 LPM of medical oxygen which is expected to increase by another 5000 LPM in coming days, as per the officials.
While Jammu is currently generating 30,000 LPM of Medical oxygen including existing 2400 LPM, however an official confirmed that, in coming days there will be more addition in the oxygen generation.
Pertinently Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha in his Independence Day speech in last month said that in August last year, the oxygen generation capacity in all our hospitals was only 15,000 LPM, and had directed the officials to enhance it to 90,000 LPM. (KNO)
