The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre at IIT Kanpur has achieved a milestone by setting up an indigenous oxygen manufacturing infrastructure in India. The startup cell has set up 10 oxygen generating plants across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana and Bihar. This development has been exercised by the Aquafront Infrasturcture, under the banner of its Mission Bharat O2, read reports. Each of the AIPL designed plants has the capacity to generate up to 500 to 600 LPM of oxygen.
Boosting oxygen supply resources across India
SIIC, IIT Kanpur launched the Mission Bharat O2 in May 2021 and has successfully installed 10 oxygen plants of 500 and 600 LPM capacities in UP, MP, Karnataka, Haryana and Bihar, the first working plant being in Kaushambi, UP with Acquafront Infrastructure.#indiafightscovid19 pic.twitter.com/cXBNoix0Gc
— IIT Kanpur (@IITKanpur) August 21, 2021
In a bid to boost the oxygen generation capacity of India ahead of the expectant rise of the ‘third wave’ of coronavirus, the prestigious IIT had launched the Mission Bharat O2 in May 2021. In a recent development under the regime, the SIIC and the startup Acquafront Infrastructure (AIPL) have successfully installed 10 oxygen centres across the nation. This aid aims to strengthen the nation’s health infrastructure and promote self-reliant technology and resources, as per global standards, to ensure an unhindered oxygen supply in the country.
Reportedly, the AIPL had designed and manufactured the PSA technology-based oxygen plants during the second wave of COVID-19. It was supported by 2 SMEs, based in Kolkata and Hallol, who pitched in as manufacturing partners of the Mission Bharat O2. These units can generate up to 500 to 600 LPM of medical grade oxygen, highlighted reports.
IIT expertise uses technique & technology to beat COVID-19
The SIIC amassed experts from various domains across the world to ensure the successful execution of plans under the ‘Mission Bharat O2’. The incubation cell brought in Dr. Arvind Rajendran from Canada, Devendra Choudhary from Switzerland, Monojit Choudhury, Nirmal Saraf, Sanjiv Verma, Sanjay Banerjee, Rajesh Raizada, Nagesh Pai also from Canada, Sanjiv Maddila from the USA)and others as mentors for this flagship programme.
Professor Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, Professor-In-Charge of the SIIC, said, “When the world was struggling to understand COVID-19 in 2020, the SIIC team delivered critical medical equipment, amidst stringent deadlines, within 90 days! Seeing the nation in crisis, we had to step up again – Mission Bharat O2 is the result of the enthusiasm of the team to serve the nation with technology at par with global standards, yet again.”