AT REVIEW MEET, GOVT MAPS OUT PLAN TO RAMP UP O2 SUPPLY
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the usage of oxygen in the country that can be tapped for medical use as new cases of Covid-19 continue to break global records and stress health care infrastructure in several parts of the country. PM Modi also reviewed the feasibility of converting the existing nitrogen plants to produce oxygen for medical use.
“A strategy has been put in place to identify such industrial units... and establish temporary Covid care centres with oxygenated beds,” the PM was informed. The statement said around 10,000 oxygenated beds will be made available.
NEW DELHI: As India continues to witness a shortage of medical oxygen amid rising Covid-19 cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the usage of oxygen in the country that can be tapped for medical use. At the meeting, the PM also reviewed the feasibility of converting the existing nitrogen plants in the country to produce oxygen for medical use.
“Many industries using rich combustion processes and power plants have oxygen plants which produce gaseous oxygen which can be tapped for medical use. A strategy has been put in place to identify such industrial units which are closer to demand centres and establish temporary Covid care centres with oxygenated beds near that source. A pilot for five such facilities had already been initiated,” the PM was informed, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The meeting was attended by principal secretary PK Mishra, cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba and home secretary Ajay Bhalla.
The statement added that it is expected that around 10,000 oxygenated beds will be made available shortly by making temporary hospitals near oxygen plants.
With regard to the conversion of nitrogen plants to produce oxygen for medical use, the PMO said that conversion of nitrogen plants to produce medical oxygen is under progress at 14 industries.
The PMO, in its statement, said that 37 more nitrogen plants have also been identified with the help of industry associations.
“Such a modified nitrogen plant can be either shifted to a nearby hospital or, in case it is not feasible to shift the plant, it can be used for on-site production of oxygen, which can be transported to hospital through specialized vessels/cylinders,” the PM was informed.
India on Sunday reported 392,488 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, down from the high of over 400,000 cases a day ago, taking the cumulative count of the cases to 19,557,457, the Union health ministry said.
According to the data, as many as 3,689 people succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours, taking the toll in the country to 215,542.