NORMS TO SET UP OXYGEN PLANTS WILL BE EASED, SAYS DHARIWAL

KOTA: The Rajasthan government will ease norms for land conversion and layout approval, apart from giving financial support, for setting up oxygen-generation plants in the state, urban development and housing (UDH) minister Shanti Dhariwal said.

The state faces medical oxygen crunch as an increasing number of Covid patients overwhelm hospitals. The state government is urging the Centre for providing oxygen and containers for transportation of the life-saving gas. A delegation of three cabinet ministers, including Dhariwal, recently met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union ministers for ensuring oxygen supply to Rajasthan.

“Like the concessions given to entrepreneurs for establishment of solar power plants, the state government will allow entrepreneurs and government bodies to set up oxygen-manufacturing plants without paying land conversion charges,” Dhariwal said.

“Also entrepreneurs and government institutions need not have to take approval for layout and 100% layout charges will be exempted, if anyone sets up an oxygen unit in the state,” he said.

The UDH minister has given in-principle approval to the proposal for providing the relaxations and its notification will be issued soon.

Municipal bodies of Jodhpur, Bikaner and Bheenmal have also come forward for setting up oxygen plants.

An investment of ₹1 crore will be required to get the advantage of the package, and the plant will have to generate oxygen by September 30, 2021, said officials familiar with the matter.

Under the package, entrepreneurs will be exempted from inspections for three years as per the provisions of the MSME Act, 2019. The state government will also help in getting necessary approvals from the central government, and an early connection of electricity and water will be provided, officials said.

Up to 25 per cent of the expenditure on plant, machinery and other equipment (maximum ₹50 lakh) will be given in two installments as a capital grant, they said.