Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 28
The Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday wrote to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh seeking assistance in airlifting equipment meant for oxygen plants in Nagaland on an “urgent basis.”
The long road journey time between Delhi and Nagaland as well as rapid surge of COVID-19 cases in the State were cited as the reasons behind the urgent request.
It came against the backdrop of Centre’s announcement for installation of 551 ‘dedicated Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Medical Oxygen Generation Plants inside public health facilities in the country,’ under PM CARES (Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations) Fund. District Hospitals of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung are included under the scheme.
‘I have personally spoken and written to the Union Minister with a request to airlift the equipment meant for oxygen plants in Nagaland,’ Rio updated on his official Twitter handle, while sharing the letter to Rajnath.
“We have been informed that the manufacturer is ready to ship it now. However, on account of the road journey time of around 10 days between Delhi and Nagaland, and the fact that COVID cases are rising fast in Nagaland, we have approached the Ministry of Defence for airlifting the 3 Oxygen Plants, weighing about 13000 Kilogram immediately from Delhi to Dimapur airport,” Rio highlighted.
In this connection, he requested Rajnath to “direct the concerned authorities to help in airlifting the equipment on an urgent basis.”
Meanwhile, stating that consistent oxygen supply is a crucial requirement for effective management of COVID cases, the Chief Minister lauded the “excellent initiative” taken under PM CARES.
The State has been in constant touch with the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India for obtaining the oxygen plants, he added.
