UP on way to becoming self-reliant in oxygen generation, more plants in the offing

Team L&M

Making a rapid stride towards becoming self-reliant in oxygen generation, close to 350 oxygen producing plants have become functional in Uttar Pradesh.

Ensuring adequate availability of medical oxygen, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government on Thursday announced that as many as 342 oxygen plants have already been set up in the state while work to get the other plants functional is going on a war-footing.

A total of 555 oxygen plants were sanctioned during the time when the second Covid-19 wave peaked in India. Of these, 342 have already become functional.

With as many as six plants becoming functional in last two days, the UP government is working on a mission mode to equip the state with the presence of all medical resources amid apprehensions of a third Covid-19 wave.

While reviewing the Covid-19 situation across the state at a high-level meeting with senior officials, state Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath said, “Six more oxygen plants have become functional in the last two days. The process of establishing the remaining under-construction plants would be completed expeditiously.”

A hospital with more than 50 beds capacity is supposed to have its own oxygen plant. The CM also directed the officials to assess the updated situation in this regard and take necessary action.

As many as 25 oxygen plants were already functional in the state before the government took the step of constructing more to ensure the availability of sufficient amounts of medical oxygen.

Besides the initiatives of the state government, the Centre has also approved the establishment of PSA medical oxygen plants with funding from PM Cares. Keeping in mind the importance of medical liquid oxygen in the treatment of Covid patients, the State government is monitoring the implementation of these plants.