Pune: Eight more oxygen generators are expected to be made functional in the Pune Metropolitan area (PMR) in about a week.
In total, 16 new oxygen plants – six in PMC, two on PCMC and eight in the country’s countryside – have been installed for the past two months.
Together, they can produce oxygen with more than 13,000 liters, per minute.
Health authorities say that the latest efforts are part of capacity building to anticipate the third wave of pandemic.
Ayush Prasad, Chief Executive Officer Pune Zilla Parishad said that 40 more oxygen plants will be established in various hospitals in PMR.
“According to the plan, in the coming weeks, 11 plants will be installed in Hospitals managed by PMC, five in PCMC and 22 in rural Pune, which includes 13 teasts and 14 city councils.
This plant has been obtained through corporate social responsibility and funds District Planning and Development (DPDC) over the past two months, “said Prasad.
The area faced severe oxygen shortages when the Covid-19 case had surged in March and April.
At that time, the district government had established a special control room to regulate the supply of oxygen to the hospital.
Industrial oxygen has also been transferred to the hospital, said health officials.
Dr.
Abhay Tidke, additional district health officers, said that the civil work needed, such as the construction of a base, pipe work, etc., was finished in many locations.
“We have received eight oxygen generation factories that will be made functional in rural hospitals next week.
This will be a great relief for hospitals because they are currently relying on private agents,” Tidke said.