Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced setting up of dedicated medical oxygen plant from PM Cares at selected district headquarters hospitals across the country to resolve the oxygen crisis at various health centres. Six months ago the central government had sanctioned funds to various states for the establishment of oxygen plants in respective regions. Some states showed keenness on the establishment of such facilities but some others including Odisha sat silent on the central funds.
The Odisha BJP has lambasted the State BJD government over its silence on the project.
“Had these plants been commissioned in Odisha, patients in Bolangir, Banrapal, Berhampur would not have died due to shortage of oxygen. The state government should come forward in this regard and set up oxygen generation plants by utilizing central funds to boost oxygen availability in the State,” BJP State general secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar said.
BJD, on the other hand passed the buck to the Centre on the ground that it had kept the tender process on hold for long which contributed much to the inordinate delay in the construction of plants in Odisha.
“The tender process for the construction of plants should be finalized by the central government much earlier, but it was done only 15-20 days ago. However, there is no scarcity of oxygen in the State as it is supplying to needy states,” BJD MP Amar Patnaik said.
Similarly, BJP national vice president and party’s Delhi in-charge Baijayant Panda targeted Delhi government for setting up only one such plant unlike Assam where eight plants are functional now.
In a tweet, he stated “The union government funding 6 months ago for States to set up O2 plants saw varied results, with Assam installing 8, Delhi only 1.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced establishment of 551 pressure swing adsorption medical oxygen generation plants inside public health facilities across the country in order to ease oxygen crisis arising out of covid -19 situation at various hospitals across the country.
Meanwhile, medical experts have welcomed the central government’s move. “The liquid oxygen plants, if set up on hospital premises, would be much beneficial for the patients. Because it would be generated there and used at the same place instantly,” SCB emergency officer Dr Bhubanananda Maharana said.
So, liquid oxygen plant on medical premises is the need of the hour, he added.