Kerala’s turnaround into oxygen surplus State in two years
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Till two years ago, Kerala used to depend on its neighbouring States for its regular supply of liquid oxygen for medical purposes. Its transformation into an oxygen surplus State began with the setting up of oxygen plants in the public and private sectors over the past two years and the steps taken by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) over the past year to augment capacity and plug leakages.
On March 23 last year, the PESO nodal officer convened a meeting of the liquid oxygen manufacturers on the issues that are anticipated with the spread of COVID-19. They were also to provide daily reports on the production and storage status. Hospitals were asked to ensure that their systems are maintained properly arresting any leakages.
Express News Service
KOCHI: On Sunday, Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane took to Twitter to thank his Kerala counterpart KK Shailaja. I extend my gratitude to (Smt.) @shailajateacher (Madam, Hon) Health Minister of Kerala for helping us with the movement of 20,000 litres of liquid oxygen for COVID patients in the state of Goa. The people of Goa are grateful for your contribution to our fight against #COVID19, he tweeted.
While Kerala s oxygen production is getting recognised, thanks to its surplus medical oxygen in its possession, the success was not achieved overnight. Kerala is the only state which currently has surplus oxygen. One reason for this could be that the PESO (Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation) and state health department have been able to calculate the oxygen requirement of each patient and ensure optimal supply whereas this process has been not very rigorous in other states. PESO, Kerala initiated the oxygen monitoring since March 23 last year along wi
Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid the sombre atmosphere caused by the growing number of Covid infections, it has emerged that the state is comfortably placed when it comes to the availability of medical oxygen. The average daily consumption of medical oxygen in the state over the last six days went up to 75 metric tonnes, of which 31.6 metric tonnes were used by Covid patients suffering from respiratory distress.
According to the figures available with the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO), which monitors the production and consumption of medical oxygen, before the onset of the second wave of the pandemic 25 metric tonnes of oxygen were being used for Covid treatment daily. Though there has been a steady increase in demand for oxygen lately, it will not burden the logistics and oxygen supply chain as the state has enough reserves to ride out the situation, said R Venugopal, deputy chief controller of explosives, PESO.
Supreme Court Issues Notice In Plea Against Alleged Use Of Banned Chemicals By Firework Manufacturers
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Supreme Court has on Thursday issued notice in application filed against alleged use of banned chemicals by firework manufacturers, mislabeling of products contrary to Supreme Court s directions.
A three judge Bench led by CJI issued the direction while hearing plea filed by three infants from Delhi in 2015, regarding alarming degradation of air quality leading to severe air pollution in Delhi NCR that can cause health hazards and seeking a complete ban on fireworks across the country to curb pollution
The plea had sought Court s intervention in the inevitable & widespread use of firecrackers specially during festivals. During the hearing today, Senior Adv Gopal Sankaranarayanan appearing for the applicant submitted before the Court that an IA has been filed, and the Court had previously given directions directing replies to be filed.
From the labs
Tough cylinder
Indian Oil Corporation and IIT-Kharagpur are jointly developing a new material to make cylinders for storing hydrogen, IOC’s Director – R&D, SSV Ramakumar, told
Quantum. Hydrogen is difficult to store, as it reacts with the cylinder walls, forming compounds and weakening them. This ‘hydrogen embrittlement’ can cause (an invisible) explosion you won’t know until the heat touches you. The “special material” under development is at least a third cheaper than conventional cylinders. Prototypes are undergoing tests. Eventually, they will develop a type-III (carbon composite with metal liner) or a type-IV (carbon composite with polymer liner) cylinder that can hold hydrogen at over 650 bars pressure. Right now the permissible pressure is 300 bars. “We have applied to the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization (PESO) for permission to raise the pressure,” Ramakumar said.