Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan today inaugurated 10 oxygen plants via video conferencing. These plants have been installed across several districts of the state. The oxygen plants cost Rs 6.5 crore are capable of producing 5500 litres per minute (LPM).

These dedicated plants have been set up at Ashta and Rehti in Sehore district, Vidisha and Sironj in Vidisha district, Khargone and Barwani in Khargone district, Khurai in Sagar district, besides Katni, Tikamgarh and Narsinghpur sources informed.

The state had received its first oxygen plant in May this year. Located in Manasa, it formed the first tehsil level plant established in Madhya Pradesh. 

As of March 2020, the state possessed no oxygen generation plant in any government hospital. Citing the difficulty faced in procuring medical oxygen when COVID-19 reached its peak during the second wave, the MP Govt had decided to establish 190 oxygen generating plants across the state. Out of the 190, 68 have been successfully established and 65 amongst these are functioning to the fullest. 

Many patients suffered without oxygen and gasped for breath during the second wave. Taking account of the shortage, several states resorted to installing oxygen plants to meet the supply and demand of oxygen.