Goemkarponn desk
STATUS REPORT IN PURSUANCE TO THE ORDER OF THE HON’BLE HIGH COURT IN PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION W.P. NOS. 1172 OF 2021,1173 OF 2021, 1174 OF 2021 DATED 13 th MAY 2021
As directed by the Hon’ble High Court, the point-wise status report is as under:
1.Expert Tractor Drivers – As submitted. the government has arranged eight Nos. trained and experienced tractor drivers from the neighbouring Kolhapur District of Maharashtra along with 2 Nos. additional high-powered tractors for ferrying the Oxygen trolleys between the plant and GMC. 5 drivers arrived in the afternoon and have been deployed. Remaining 3 drivers shall be arriving late evening and would also be deployed in shifts.
2. Installation of LMO tank-The LMO storage 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 under way and the civil works required for installation of the tank will be completed by today evening i.e. 14 th May 2021. Piping and welding of the gas pipelines will be completed by 15/5/2021 and purging and other safety checks of the installation would be carried out on 16/5/2021.The LMO tank is expected to be operationalized by 17/5/2021.
3. Capping of Ambulance and Hearse Van rates- In view of receipt of complaints against fleecing of patients and their relatives, the government vide order dated 13/5/2021 has capped the rates for the ambulances and hearse vans used by COVID patients and for transportation of COVID patients’ dead bodies respectively.
4. Arrangements for refilling of oxygen cylinders for home use – As directed by this Hon’ble Court, the Government has detailed the facilities available and functional on a 24X7 basis to facilitate refilling of oxygen cylinders for Covid patients and NGOs for use of Covid patients only in genuine cases vide order dated 13/5/2021.
5. Installation of Dura Cylinders: 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 13 th May 2021 . After their 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 trolley they help reduce the change over time and thus are useful.
6. Supply Position Of Oxygen Trolleys and Cylinders: In last 24 hours from 8 a.m. of 13 th May 2021 to 8 am of 14 th May 2021, a total of 62 Oxygen trolleys have been supplied at 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) were personally present from 10 PM till 5.45 AM to monitor the situation at the new manifold site, and no complaints were received by us during this period about drop in pressure.
7. Oxygen Concentrators: Out of 323 Oxygen Concentrators received, and based on assessment made by the doctors, 323 Oxygen Concentrators were deployed at following places as per the requirement: GMC – 263 ID Ponda – 30 Asilo – 20 Keshav Kendra Bicholim – 10 Out of the 263 Concentrators, 163 were deployed at GMC and 100 in the new Super Speciality Block based on the assessment made by the doctors.
8. Allocation of LMO from Govt. of India: Vide Order dated 13 th May, 2021, Govt. of India enhanced the daily allocation by 20MT per day from 26 MT to 46 MT per day.
