Kejriwal-led govt says Centre’s claims on O2 ‘false’
The union govt is hiding its abject failure in setting up plants: Delhi
NEW DELHI: Calling the Centre’s claim of Delhi government delaying the site readiness for installing eight Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen generation plants in the national capital with the support of the PM CARES Fund as “outrightly false”, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government on Sunday said only one plant has been made operational till date.
“It is extremely unfortunate that at a time when Delhi government is working closely with Centre to bridge the gap in Centre’s allocated quota of oxygen for Delhi, Central government is giving outrightly false statements to hide its abject failure in setting up of PSA oxygen plants in Delhi,” the Kejriwal government said in a statement.
The Kejriwal government said that seven of the eight plants in the national capital were to be set up at Delhi government hospitals, and one at Central government hospital – Safdarjung.
“After multiple follow-ups with the Central government, plants for five hospitals were delivered in early March 2021,” it said.
The Delhi government alleged that for the remaining two hospital locations, the plants have not even been received on site. “We are shocked to learn that Central government is now making the excuse of site certificate not being available from the Delhi government as a reason for delay,” it added.
“The fact that the PSA plant has not been made operational at even Centre’s own Safdarjung hospital shows that Centre is caught in the web of its own lies.”
In order to augment the medical oxygen capacity of Delhi amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, eight PSA oxygen generation plants are being installed in the national capital with the support of the PM CARES Fund, official sources said.
These plants will enhance the capacity of medical oxygen by 14.4 metric tonnes. Of the eight PSA plants to be installed in Delhi, one was already installed at Burari Hospital,
Kaushik Enclave on March 17. Four plants, one each at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Rohini and Deepa Chand Bandhu Hospital, Ashok Vihar are expected to be completed by April 30.
Will provide vaccine for free, 1.34 cr orders placed: Kejriwal
The Delhi government has decided to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to everyone above 18 years of age, said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday, adding that approval has been given for the purchase of 1.34 crore doses. “The Delhi government has decided to provide free vaccines to everyone above 18 years of age. Today we have given the approval for the purchase of 1.34 crore vaccines. We will make an effort to ensure that it is purchased soon and administered at the earliest to people,” Kejriwal said in an address.
Other states who have decided to provide free vaccines include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among several others.