Vishakapatnam: Eastern Naval Command will operate and maintain oxygen plants in all government and teaching hospitals across the state. It will take the responsibility of fixing leakages in oxygen plants, condition of plants and precautions to be taken in the plants. Four special teams were formed and each team has management responsibilities in three to four districts. Arrangements are made to airlift these teams to the required locations if necessary. These teams will fix problems in the supply of oxygen and solve other problems.

The Navy has agreed to extend its support to the state government in rectifying technical errors in Oxygen plants. The Navy has agreed to transport 25 cryogenic oxygen cylinders, which are coming to the state from Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The Navy officials have approved to provide special vehicles for transportation of liquid medical oxygen containers for regular uses and also to supply oxygen concentrators, D- type oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment required for covid treatment.

Officials of Eastern Naval Command have agreed to allot 10 oxygen beds along with 60 normal beds for COVID treatment in INS Kalinga hospital. They have also agreed to develop infrastructure facilities for a 150-bed temporary covid hospital in Kancherapalem of Vishakapatnam district and requested the district administration to arrange required doctors and medical staff. The Navy has come forward to donate 200 D-type cylinders.

The steel plant officials informed the state government that only 100 metric tons of MLO have been producing in two units, which have the capacity of producing 850 metric tons. The steel plant officials said though the plant is completed in 2013, discussions are yet to complete with Contracting agencies and as the discussions are completed now, plant will be available in the coming six months. A special committee of the contracting agency will study the plant situation within a week. The officials of naval dockyard have agreed to visit the plant also extend support to the contracting agency. The officials said though this plant is not useful at present, it will cater the future needs.

Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) has agreed to set up a 50-bed hospital with an oxygen facility for covid treatment at Gurajada Kalakshetram in Vishakapatnam. The Chief Managing Director of Vizag Steel Plant has said that an additional 150 beds will be arranged in that hospital by May 15. The Steel Plant officials said 250 beds will be available by May 30 and 600 beds will be available by June in that hospital and requested the district administration to ensure required doctors and media staff are available accordingly.

The officials of Eastern Naval Command and Vizag Steel plant thanked the state government for providing 4,000 doses of Covid vaccine to the staff and their family members.