Covid Fightback: Union Minister Directs MCL To Set Up 550 Oxygen Beds With Other Facilities In 4 Odisha Districts

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday informed that he has directed Mahanadi Coalfields Limited to set up a total of 550 hospital beds allied with other crucial medicare infrastructure in 4 districts of Odisha to cater to the government’s need in the fight against Covid pandemic. 

Joshi’s response comes after Union Steel and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s plea to the Mines Ministry recently to direct the MCL in installing suitable healthcare facilities to help patients in high Covid hit districts of Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Angul. 

Union Minister Joshi has instructed the management of MCL to positively consider Pradhan’s request for setting up a temporary super specialty hospital with 150 oxygen beds, ICU and ventilator facilities in Sambalpur, 50 oxygen beds, ICU and ventilators each in Sundargarh Basundhara and Jharsuguda Brajrajnagar Covid hospitals. 

This apart, the MCL has also been asked to install 150 oxygen beds, ICU and ventilator facilities at Jharsuguda Lakhanpur Covid hospital and Talcher Covid hospital which is infact managed by the MCL itself. 

As per the letter by the Union Petroleum Minister, the MCL has so far contributed a total sum of over Rs 140 crore towards Covid management and preparedness in Odisha.