TMC to set up its own oxygen plant soon

Shortage of O2 makes civic body set up 20-tonne plant at Global Hosp & Parking Plaza

THANE: To deal with the shortage of oxygen across the hospitals in the city, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has decided to set up its own oxygen plant at the Thane Global Covid Hospital and the Parking Plaza Covid facility. The corporation also plans to complete the work on this plant in 15 days.

The budget for setting up the plant is ₹3.5Cr while it will be operational even post-Covid. The decision to set up the plant was taken in the standing committee meeting held on Friday.

The scarcity of beds, medicines and oxygen, and the increasing cases and deaths in the city had come up for discussion in the meeting. The committee has asked the corporation to review the entire Covid situation.

Sandeep Malvi, deputy municipal commissioner, said, “Shortage of oxygen is one of the most crucial issues faced by the city today. We have decided to set up the city’s own oxygen plant to deal with the situation. The 20-ton plant, which will be set up in Thane Global Hospital and Parking Plaza will provide 24-hour oxygen supply. The plant will provide 175 oxygen cylinders in 24 hours. The work will be completed by April 30.”

A civic official informed, “We have given the work of the said plant to a private company and the deadline is set for April 30. If the company is not able to start the plant by the set deadline, it will be imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh per day.” The city needs 33 tons of oxygen every day, 13 tons for Parking Plaza and 20 tons for Thane Global Hospital.

“At present, we get 17 tons oxygen from private companies and 17 tons from the state, which barely meet the demand. When the 20-ton plant is operational, the city will get enough oxygen daily, which can be used for patients from private hospitals too,” the officer added.

Apart from this immediate plant, another proposal will be put forth by the TMC in the general body meeting to be held next week. The proposal is to set up two oxygen tanks of 12 kilolitres, one each at an open place near Kharegaon in Kalwa and Kausa in Mumbra. This is with an aim to have a provision for back up in Covid care centres. This will be liquid oxygen and permission needs to be taken from Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) for the same.

“For permission from PESO on both these sites, a total amount of ₹1.6 lakh would be required. This will be handed over to a private company. This company has been given the work to fill the tank by MHADA, which is building the two tanks in Kalwa and Mumbra. No expenses to build the tank will be borne by the TMC. Once it will be in use, the civic body will undertake its responsibility,” said a TMC officer.

PRAFUL GANGURDE/HT PHOTO A hospital staff arranges oxygen cylinders outside the Covid ward at Thane Civil Hospital in Thane on Friday.