Udupi Excise Dept produces Hand Sanitizers, Supplies to DK too

Udupi Excise Dept produces Hand Sanitizers, Supplies to DK too

Udupi: The Udupi district Excise department has been making hand sanitizers to keep the government officials and patients safe from the threat of COVID-19.

A first-of-its-kind initiative by the excise department in the state that has begun producing a hand-rub solution following reports of the scarcity of sanitizers in the market due to increased demand. The Udupi district excise department not only began producing sanitizers to the district but is also supplying it to neighbouring Dakshina Kannada district too.

The department has produced hand-rub solutions in 100ml, 200ml, and 375 ml bottles. These sanitizers will be supplied to various departments including hospitals, DC office, government departments and the media persons. Sanitizers are being charged Rs 300 to 400 for a 375 ml bottle in the market but the excise department will be giving them for Rs 96 only.

Speaking to Mangalorean.com H Nagesh Kumar commissioner of the Excise Department, Udupi district said, “As per the direction of the Commissioner of State Excise, the Udupi District Excise Department has obtained a special permit from the Drug Control Department, Bengaluru to manufacture sanitizers at the Udupi Sarvada Distillery. It is the first such experiment in the state and is now being implemented in other districts of the state as the experiment was successful in Udupi”.

A total of 4793 liters of sanitizer was produced using a total of 3835 liters of spirit in three stages. One bottle contains 375 mL sanitizer. DK district has ordered a total of 300 boxes, and in the first phase, 200 boxes containing 1800 liters of sanitizer has been supplied. In the second phase, 184 boxes containing 1643 liters of sanitizer have been distributed to the Udupi district. In the third phase, 1350 liters of sanitizer were produced, including 100 boxes for DK district.

According to the Department of Drug Control, a bottle of 375 ml costs Rs 187.5. But the Udupi district excise department will be giving it at Rs 96 per bottle at a discount rate. About 34 boxes have been given to Udupi district administration free of cost.

Sanitizers produced in Udupi were handed over to the Udupi District on priority by the Health Department. Of the 34 boxes initially produced, 15 were delivered to the Department of Health.

The rest have been distributed to all the police stations, various departments of the District Secretariat, Kundapur AC Office and all Taluk Offices, Udupi Municipal and Local Governments and Citizens.