Oxygen plant at Idukki Medical College lies idle for three years due to narrow access road

Cheruthoni: The oxygen plant constructed on the premises of the Idukki Medical College now stands as a stark example of the official apathy towards an institution that should ideally serve as the backbone of healthcare in one of the State’s most backward districts.

The extent of this negligence becomes evident when one learns why the plant,  the works on which were completed by expending crores of rupees three years ago, is still not operational. The sole reason for his pathetic situation is that the access road to the plant is too narrow for trucks carrying 10,000 litres of liquid oxygen to reach the facility!

 A problem that could have been solved with a few lakhs of rupees spent on widening and tarring the road has instead left the entire plant idle and overgrown with thick vegetation. This situation can be aptly summed up as “buying an elephant for crores, but refusing to buy the rope for a few thousands.”

A few months ago, a tanker truck carrying liquid oxygen arrived at the site, but unable to reach the plant, it had to return without unloading. The facility, constructed by a Kozhikode-based company, now faces the risk of losing its operational approval. The company has issued a letter to the medical college authorities, warning that unless the plant begins production soon, its certification will lapse.

With the plant remaining unused for over two years, it has now been engulfed by vegetation and further neglect could result in the complete waste of several crores of public money.

Though authorities had earlier announced the allocation of ₹18.36 crore for the construction of internal roads within the medical college campus, no progress has been made so far, not even the awarding of contracts.

The same state of neglect extends to the operation theatres and staff quarters of the medical college.