Rishikesh, Oct 7,2021: The world is watching how India is handling the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday as he dedicated 35 PSA oxygen plants to the nation, and lauded the efforts made by India through the Covid-19 pandemic in augmenting and creating health infrastructure like labs, oxygen supply and the ongoing vaccination program.
Speaking at an event at AIIMS Rishikesh, the Prime Minister also recalled that it was this day 20 years ago, he got a new responsibility to serve the public as the chief minister of Gujarat. “World is closely watching how India is facing the biggest challenge of 100 years (Covid-19 pandemic). The kind of facilities India created in limited time shows our capabilities,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said India created a network of labs, increased its oxygen production by almost ten times during the second wave, and is now running the world’s “fastest and largest” vaccination program. He also said that the country’s large population and diverse geography were major challenges.
“Work was done at war scale day and night. Wherever possible, oxygen plants and tankers were arranged. Special oxygen trains were run, Indian Air Force aircraft were used for transporting oxygen, PSA oxygen plants were built and funds were given for over one lakh oxygen concentrators,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation 35 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plants established under PM CARES, across 35 States and Union Territories. According to an official statement, 1224 PSA Oxygen Plants have been funded under PM Cares all across the country, out of which more than 1,100 Plants have been commissioned, providing an output of over 1750 MT oxygen per day.
