Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 23: As COVID19 has been gripping newer areas at an alarming pace, demand for oxygen has gone up steeply in coastal districts of Karnataka too. As of now, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts however, are not facing any oxygen shortage. Eight medical colleges in the district and the district Wenlock Hospitals have oxygen storage plants where they can store oxygen requirement for 15 days.

The demand for oxygen now is about 6,000 cubic litre in Dakshina Kannada and 4,000 cubic litres in Udupi. Dakshina Kannada district has two units, one which brings liquid oxygen from Kerala and refills it here, and the other which separates oxygen through the compression of natural air and refills it. Most of the hospitals in the twin districts get oxygen from here.

Some hospitals in the city were using one liquid container of 20 cylinder capacity before the advent of coronavirus infection. During the period corona was at its peak last year, they used up four liquid containers per day. Oxygen supplier, Narayana Aithal, says that demand for oxygen has gone up from all the hospitals, adding that at present there is no shortage. He said that if liquid oxygen and other items are available in sufficient quantities on time, supply will not be a problem.

Oxygen cylinders are used for various industries in the state like welding, cutting, fabrication etc. As there was a shortfall in medical oxygen during the corona period last year, the government had instructed to use industrial oxygen cylinders in the hospitals. At present, industries are getting oxygen cylinders. If there is a need for medical use, the district administration might cut down supply to industrial use and divert the same to hospitals.

Deputy commissioner of the district, Dr Rajendra K V, says that there is no shortage of oxygen in the district and that the requirement is met from oxygen produced in the city. He feels that even in the future problems might not arise. He revealed that the district drug controllers committee has been formed as a precautionary measure of which oxygen suppliers from the state and officials are made the members.