COVID-19: Union Minister Urges Centre To Set Up 19 More Oxygen Plants In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday requested the Centre to set up 19 more pressure swing absorption (PSA) medical oxygen plants in 15 districts of Odisha.

Pradhan made the request in a letter to Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan.

The minister stated that Odisha needs more PSA plants due to the widespread impact of the second wave of COVID-19 and requested his Cabinet colleague to personally intervene in setting up of the additional oxygen units in 15 districts.

Highlighting the state government’s proposal in this regard, Pradhan said there should be two plants each in Balasore, Balangir, Ganjam and Mayurbhanj districts and one each in Cuttack, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghapur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Koraput, Puri, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Sonepur districts.

“The setting up of these plants on a war-footing will go a long way in supporting the COVID-19 treatment of the patients in the state,” he wrote.

In his letter, Pradhan also mentioned that the country is facing one of its toughest battles against COVID-19 and the Prime Minister has bolstered the concerted drive against the pandemic by taking several critical initiatives and crucial decisions to extend all assistance to the states.

He further said the PM had accorded emergency approval for installation of 551 dedicated PSA medical oxygen plants at public health facilities across the country from the PM Cares Fund.

Of the 162 PSA plants allocated earlier, it has been decided to set up 21 PSA units in Odisha. Of these, seven plants each are being set up by the DRDO, Petroleum & Natural Gas Ministry and the Centre, he mentioned.