NEW DELHI, Jul 10 (NNN-PTI) – Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, yesterday reviewed the progress of oxygen augmentation and availability across the country.
The review meeting assumed significance, in the wake of fears of a third COVID-19 wave, after the second wave jolted the country during Apr-May, amid an acute shortage of oxygen.
Officials briefed Modi about the progress on the installation of oxygen plants across the country. More than 1,500 oxygen plants are coming up in the nation, which includes contributions from PM CARES, as well as, various ministries and public sector undertakings (PSUs), said an official statement issued by the government.
Oxygen plants contributed by PM CARES are coming up in all states and districts of the country. The prime minister was informed that once all the oxygen plants would be functional, they would support more than 400,000 oxygenated beds.
Modi instructed officials to ensure that these plants are made functional at the earliest and to work closely with the state governments for the same. Officers told Modi that they were in regular touch with officers from state governments, regarding fast-tracking the oxygen plants.
In a cabinet reshuffle two days ago, former health minister, Harsh Vardhan, was dropped against the backdrop of severe criticism the Modi government faced in recent months, from opposition parties in “mishandling” the COVID-19 situation.
The Indian government on Thursday approved a new emergency response package worth over three billion U.S. dollars, to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.– NNN-PTI
