The government has given permission to set up 551 oxygen plants in the country as various hospitals across the country are facing an oxygen shortage in the second wave of COVID-19. The money was allocated from the PM Care Fund. The plants will be set up in district hospitals.
‘The Prime Minister has directed to set up oxygen plants as soon as possible. This will reduce the oxygen shortage at the district level. The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. The plants are being set up with the aim of improving the public health system.
Earlier this year, the PM-Cares Fund had sanctioned Rs 201.58 crore for setting up 162 oxygen plants in government hospitals.
Many hospitals in the country are not admitting new patients due to severe oxygen shortage. Meanwhile, they were caught trying to sell oxygen cylinders on the black market from states including UP. According to ANI, police seized more than 100 oxygen cylinders from Nandi Gram in Ghaziabad. Earlier in the day, police seized 48 oxygen cylinders from a house in Delhi. 32 large oxygen cylinders and 16 small cylinders were found.