Cachar admin amasses 68 empty industrial grade oxygen cylinders for medical use

Silchar, May 23: Following the orders from Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli, several magistrate led teams visited industries across the town for collecting empty oxygen cylinders used in industrial purpose with a view to convert them for medical use.

According to a release issued to the media by the DIPR office Barak Valley region, 68 cylinders accumulated during the drive will be filled with oxygen and used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients across the hospitals. Biswajit Saikia, Silchar Sadar Circle Officer, Kishan Chorei ACS, Hussain Mobin ALRS collected the cylinders from several industrial points and handed over the cylinders to the administration for future use amidst the growing necessity of cylinders owing to rise in cases.

"Cachar, being the nodal District with Silchar Medical College and Hospital treating patients for COVID-19, we are to look into addressing the medical needs of 40 lakh population of Barak Valley. Hence this drive to collect empty cylinders for use for medical purposes has been taken up. I request more and more industrialists to rationalise their usage and voluntarily surrender the available surplus/empty oxygen cylinders which will be returned as soon as pandemic subsides. Our cases are increasing everyday as we are doing extensive testing to isolate and contain the spread of the virus. Once the peak period passes these cylinders can be put back for resumption of industrial activities as they drive our economy as well, the Deputy Commissioner maintained.

The release said that Oxygen has been declared an essential product and falls under ESMA Act along with NDMA act. It is pertinent to mention here that these cylinders will be returned to their owners after the present COVID-19 situation subsides, the release said.