Coronavirus prevention: 5000 litres of seized spirit given to make sanitizer

Thiruvananthapuram: The spirit seized by the Excise Department as evidence of various cases has come in handy when the state is facing scarcity of sanitizer during the Coronavirus preventive actions. A total of 4978 litres of spirit seized by the excise has been given for making sanitizer. In addition to this, 2568 litres of spirit was handed over to health department for sanitizing isolation wards.

The major ingredient of sanitizer is isopropanol for commercial purposes or ethyl alcohol (ethanol) used for making liquor. Isopropanol is mainly used. The Drugs Control Department granted license to only three companies in the state to make sanitizer. As the use of sanitizer multiplied during Coronavirus outbreak, the state is facing intense scarcity of sanitizers.

The companies that produce isopropanol doubled the price in view of the situation. The Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (KSDP), which first produced the sanitizer, could purchase isopropanol for Rs 140 per litre in the beginning. But the price rose to Rs 350 when they asked for more supply. With this, they sought help of excise department.

Normally, the seized spirit is produced in the court and then sold. So, there was no huge stock available. The excise granted permit to the KSDP on Thursday to purchase spirit for making sanitizer. Spirit is brought from Travancore Sugar and Chemicals, the only spirit making unit in the state.

The KSDP had sought permit for buying 1.5 lakh litres of spirit. As the initial phase, the excise allowed them to purchase 10,000 litres. KSDP chairman C B Chandrababu said that they will make sanitizer using this spirit and bring to the market.