UP speeds up oxygen plants set up, close to 350 plants get functional

As six more plants get functional in last 2 days, UP moves towards becoming self-reliant in O2 generation

Ensuring adequate availability of medical oxygen, the Uttar Pradesh government has 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.

In a proactive move to make the state self-reliant in terms of oxygen availability, a total of 555 oxygen plants were sanctioned during the second COVID-19 wave, which was at its peak in April and May throughout India. Of these, 342 plants have been set up and made functional till now.

With as many as 6 plants becoming functional in the span of the last 2 days, the Uttar Pradesh 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 in a high-level meeting with senior officials, the CM said, “6 more oxygen plants have become functional in the last 2 days. The process of establishing the remaining under-construction plants should be completed expeditiously.”

The oxygen plants are to be mandatory in hospitals of more than 50 beds capacity. The CM also directed the officials to assess the updated situation in this regard and take necessary action.

As many as twenty-five 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. Such facilities will help the state fight possible future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.