Assures new oxygen tank to be operational by May 17 at GMC; informs 8 experienced tractor drivers on board for ferrying oxygen trolleys
PANAJI
The Goa government has told the Bombay High Court at Goa that there were ‘no complaints’ of oxygen shortage on the intervening night of May 13 and 14 when thirteen deaths allegedly took place on account of lack of oxygen.
In the status report he has filed before the Bombay High Court at Goa, Goa Health Secretary Ravi Dhawan apprised the court on the status of oxygen supply.
“A total of 62 Oxygen trolleys have been supplied to the GMC. In addition, a total of 600 jumbo cylinders and 47 small cylinders were also supplied. The undersigned and Dr Tariq Thomas, Secretary (UD), was personally present from 10 pm to 5.45 am to monitor the situation at the new manifold site, and no complaints were received by us during this period about pressure drop,” Secretary Ravi Dhawan said.
The government also told the court that it has brought on board eight trained and experienced tractor drivers from the neighbouring Kolhapur District of Maharashtra along with two additional high-powered tractors for ferrying the oxygen trolleys between the plant and GMC.
“Five drivers arrived in the afternoon and have been deployed. The remaining three drivers will be arriving late evening and would also be deployed in shifts,” Dhawan said.
The Government also assured the court that the Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) tank arranged by the Government from M/s Praxair India Pvt. Limited has already been transported from Bicholim to the GMC new Covid manifold site.
“The erection work of the tank is underway and the civil works required for installation of the tank will be completed by today (Friday) evening. Piping and welding of the gas pipelines will be completed by May 15 and purging and other safety checks of the installation would be carried out on May 16. The LMO tank is expected to be operationalized by May 17,” the government informed.
“Two dura cylinders were obtained from M/s Scoop Oxygen Pvt Limited and with the help of technical support from M/s Oxy Nitro, the same were deployed at the new Covid manifold site at around 6 pm on May 13. After commissioning and observation of their performance over a 12-hour period of high demand in the night, it may be concluded that while dura cylinders were useful in helping prolong the duration of oxygen supply from a given trolley, they do not act as an alternative. Despite this limitation, by helping prolong the duration of supply from trolleys they help reduce the change over time and thus are useful,” the government told the High Court.
