Mandya: Accusing Mysuru District Administration of failing to supply Mandya District’s oxygen quota, Mandya District In-charge Minister K.C. Narayanagowda said that Mandya was getting only 3KL of oxygen as against its quota of 5 KL.

Addressing a press meet at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Friday, Narayangowda refuted Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha’s claims that Mandya was getting its quota of oxygen in full. But the MP may not be knowing the fact that Mandya is getting only 3 KL out of the 5 KL allotted for the district, he said.

Contending that there will be no oxygen problem in the district if there is 10 KL supplies, Narayanagowda said that he has spoken to the Chief Secretary on supplying atleast 7 KL oxygen to the district, which will be just about enough for now. Asserting that the number of oxygenated beds cannot be increased for want of oxygen, he said that shortage of oxygen is the main reason for the delay in augmentation of oxygen beds.

Pointing out that film producer Vijay Kirgandur, who hails from Mandya district and Mandya’s Milk body MANMUL have come forward for funding oxygen plants, the Minister said that the District Administration will set up oxygen plants at Mandya and Malavalli in two months, either with the help of more donors or through Government grant.

Blaming infected persons from Bengaluru and Mysuru for the rise in COVID cases in the district, Narayanagowda said that regular travel of employees and workers from Mandya to Bengaluru and Mysuru is the reason for the spurt.

Continuing, he said that there are a total of 612 oxygen beds in the district, including 517 in Government and 95 in Private Hospitals.  Also, there are 12 ICU beds in Government and 19 in Private Hospitals and 45 ventilators in Government and 16 in Private Hospitals. 

Out of the 40 ambulances in the district, 20 are reserved for COVID patients, 10 for ferrying COVID dead bodies and 10 for non-COVID patients.

Referring to the availability of Remdesivir injections in the district, he said that the district had only 280 injections as against the required 540, thus falling short by 260. The authorities have been directed to ensure that the district gets more of this vital vaccine in the coming days, he added.

Dismissing allegations that the District Minister was coming in the way of Indira canteen at K.R. Pet, Narayanagowda said that the Canteen would open soon in the town. Blaming the canteen contractor for the delay, he said that officials have been directed to ask the contractor to complete the works quickly.

He asserted that both the Union and State Governments were working overtime to prevent the possible outbreak of the third wave attack of the deadly virus. He sought the co-operation of the public for putting an end to the deadly contagion, which is snuffing out invaluable lives.

ZP CEO Divya Prabhu, ADC Shylaja, District Health Officer Dr. Manchegowda, MIMS Director Dr. Harish, CHMR Head Somashekar, District Information Officer T.K. Harish, District BJP President Vijaykumar and others were present.