The second wave of coronavirus in India has led us to reimpose a complete lockdown to which PM Narendra Modi has responded ‘no’. In line with his direction of exploring innovative ways to ramp up the prevailing situation Prime Minister Modi on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the usage of gaseous oxygen. 

The supply and availability of oxygen amid the COVID-19 crisis has reported shortage since the second wave. After a meeting on the usage of gaseous oxygen, the government said many industries like Steel plants, refineries with petrochemical units, industries using rich combustion process, power plants etc have oxygen plants which produce gaseous oxygen which is used in the process. In the dreadful situation of India the strategy being used is to identify industrial units which produce gaseous oxygen of requisite purity, shortlist those which are closer to cities/dense areas/demand centres and establish temporary COVID-19 care centres with oxygenated beds near that source. The government said that this is being accomplished through Public sector undertakings or private industries operating the plant and co-ordination of the Centre and state governments. Around 10,000 oxygenated beds can be made available in a short period of time by making temporary hospitals near such plants, government ensures.

Principal Secretary to PM, Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary Road Transport and Highways and other senior officials participated in the meeting.

Also Read

Travel Ban: Maldives imposes non-essential travel ban between islands

Pakistan signs agreement to buy 30 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine

Taiwan bans overseas arrivals from India, as Indonesia reports first cases of Indian COVID