The Yogi Adityanath government in UP has proactively begun to prepare for a possible Covid 3rd wave by initiating bids for setting up 350 oxygen generation plaints in government hospital as per News18 report. They will have a total capacity to generate over 3 lakhs litres of medical grade oxygen per minute (LPM).

The UP government has fixed two months deadline for the 350 oxygen plants to be made operational once the orders are placed and necessary approvals are given. June 8th is the deadline for the closing of the bids. Different capacities of oxygen generation plants are planned ranging from big ones with 1500 LPM for major district hospitals to 500 LPM for smaller ones.

YOGI GOVT POLICY TO INCENTIVISE OXYGEN PRODUCTION

With the operationalising of these plants, UP will become self-sufficient for medical grade oxygen supply. The Yogi govt has approved an Oxygen Production Incentive Policy, 2021 on May 16th, which offers incentives up to 25% of capital subsidy and full waiver in stamp duty.

The PM CARES fund has also distributed funds in April for installation of 551 dedicated Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plants in public health facilities across the country. In January this year the PM CARES Fund allocated Rs.201.58 crores for installation of 162 dedicated PSA Medical Oxygen Generation Plants in public health facilities which are already operational.

The Yogi government in UP will fund these new 350 oxygen plants by utilising the PM CARES fund for some of the plants, while the rest of the cost would be bore by the UP state government.

News input and image source: News18

DISCLAIMER: The author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this article. The author carries the responsibility for citing and/or licensing of images utilized within the text.