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EM Bureau
Dimapur, April 26 (EMN): Amid medical oxygen shortage being reported in several states in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases, the government of India has decided to set up 13 oxygen generation plants in five north-eastern states, including Nagaland, with an aim to boost the availability of the life-saving gas.
"Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Mizoram will get three oxygen plants each while Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur will get two units each," the official told PTI on Monday.
The projects are part of the 551 dedicated Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plants that the Centre government had announced earlier to be set up inside public health facilities across the country through the PM Cares Fund.
However, there is no mention of the three other north-eastern states - Sikkim, Tripura and Assam - in the approved plans, the official told the news agency.
In Nagaland, the oxygen generation plants will be set up in Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung districts; East Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills districts in Meghalaya; and Aizawl, Champhai and Lunglei districts in Mizoram.
Meanwhile, Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru had earlier told Eastern Mirror that the government of Nagaland is in the process of setting up oxygen generation plants in all the 11 district hospitals.
He once again informed this newspaper on Monday that the 11 oxygen plants include the three mentioned in the PTI report, so the total number of such facilities coming up in the state stands at 11.
He had said that out of the 11 oxygen plants to be set up in the state, equipment for three of them will be supplied by the Government of India, six by the United Nations Children's Fund, and two by the United Nations Development Programme.
He added that the oxygen plants are expected to be completed by the end of May this year.
(With inputs from PTI)