Media reports on non-maintenance of oxygen plants set up in Chhattisgarh using PM Cares Fund are “false and baseless”

Raipur:
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has dismissed as “false and
baseless” some media reports stating that there is no budget for the
maintenance of 49 oxygen plants installed from the PM Cares Fund in the
Chhattisgarh state.

It
has been stated in some media reports that these plants installed from PM Cares
Fund are not being maintained properly. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) of
the Central Government has termed these reports as completely false and
misleading clarifying that the Union Health Ministry regularly conducts weekly
reviews to ensure proper functioning of these plants.

According
to the information received from the Health Department, at least 119 PSA oxygen
generating plants are being set up in the state of Chhattisgarh from various
sources, including 49 from PM CARES Fund, 46 by the state government, 18 from
CSR, 2 from Railways and 4 from foreign aid to CRPF. As many as 49 plants have
been set up using PM CARES Fund, out of which 48 are operational.

PIB
has clarified that zeolite, which plays a major role in the production of
medical-grade oxygen, needs to be replaced after 1000 hours of operation in
these plants; however, this quality equipment zeolite can be easily used for an
average of 3 to 5 years. It is changed only after this period, for which the
necessary amount has also been approved by the Chhattisgarh government.

Meanwhile,
some media reports have stated that the oxygen manufacturing plants set up
through the PM Cares Fund in the state of Chhattisgarh are not being maintained
properly. In the official press note issued by the Union Ministry, it has been
informed that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is conducting
regular weekly reviews of all the plants and the work being done there.