In the past two weeks, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) used more than 2.5 lakh litres of special chemicals to disinfect around 60,000 spots across the summer capital Srinagar.
The SMC is using Quaternary Ammonium Chloride, highlyrecommended by World Health Organization for disinfection, said Srinagar Mayor,Junaid Matoo.
He said more than 2.5 lakh litres of chemical water was usedto ensure disinfection of public places, hospitals, quarantine homes, roads,streets and other places.
“Quaternary Ammonium Chloride is fifth generation chemical.When it comes to safeguarding lives of our people, we will not stay back,” hesaid.
He said due standard were being followed to carry theprocess to disinfect the areas. “Weadopt international SoP to ensure we get success in what we are doing forpeople and at the same time the SMC staffers engaged in process does not getinfected,” Matoo said.
He said with the rise in COVID19 cases, the SMC hasintensified its operations to ensure the coronavirus infection does not spread.
He said additional men and machinery was being pressed intoservice for sterilization and sanitation of the areas.
“The special focus is given to the areas which reports thefresh cases,” he said.
He said special sterilization and sanitization drive wascarried at Chattabal Bemina, Jawahar Nagar, Soiteng and other areas fallingwithin their 300 meters of radius of the houses of the infected persons. Droneswere used to get the exact radius of 300 meters, he said.
“The SMC teams carry out sterilization and fumigation ofresidential houses, premises and even the vehicles where any COVID case isreported,” Matoo said.
Earlier, he tweeted: “For those asking – the chemicals beingused by SMC for decontamination and as disinfectants – Quarternary AmmoniumCompounds – arguably the most efficacious for #Covid19. We are additionallyalso using NaCLO for non-sensitive sites. #Srinagar #SMC.”
He said teams engaged in the operation were provided allnecessary and precautionary equipments to ensure they did not get infection.
On Monday, four more patients, two each from Srinagar andShopian, tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the total number ofpositive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 45. The first COVID19 case, a woman fromSrinagar, was reported on March 18. Two elderly persons, who had testedpositive for the infection have died in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, the SMC is all set to install disinfectionmachines in the hospital to prevent spread of coronavirus infection.
The tunnel-type machine, equipped with latest technology,will sprays a chemical on every person entering the hospital, said Matoo.
“It releases smaller droplets. The smaller the droplet, the more effectiveit is against COVID19,” he said.
He said engineers were busy making three prototypefabricated tunnels and most successful one will be installed at hospitals inphase-I.
In phase-II, he said, the SMC will install the tunnelsacross the Srinagar. “These measures aregoing to be the game changer,” he said.
Matoo said it was one of the major measures as Srinagarbattles to break chain of infection. “This machine disinfects people in seconds, and it is among the effortsto combat the coronavirus. It is a similar type of tunnel and machine what wasused in Wuhan, China,” he said.
He said the person coming out will go disinfected back tohome once passing through the tunnel.
The new machines can force the chemical mixed water into 360degree directions, covering several meters in radius.
In another development, the SMC engineers have developed anincinerator to dispose of the waste generated at quarantine homes.
The SMC is collecting waste from all quarantine facilitiesestablished in Srinagar every morning. “This waste is collected and transportedon scientific lines. To ensure its scientific disposal, the incinerator ishighly recommended by the experts,” Matoo said.