Pradhan inaugurates a jumbo COVID-care facility set up by SAIL-ISP Burnpur in West Bengal

New Delhi: Union Minister of Steel Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday dedicated a 200-bedded Jumbo COVID Care Facility set up by SAIL-IISCO Burnpur in West Bengal for the care of COVID patients. The Minister of State for Steel Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Babul Supriyo, South Asansol MLA Agnimitra Paul and SAIL Chairperson Soma Mondal were among those present in the virtual ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Pradhan lauded the Steel sector for rising to the occasion, by fulfilling the majority of the country's liquid medical oxygen. He said that the steel plants have shown Ispati Irada. The steel plants reduced usage of gaseous oxygen to increase the production of LMO. He said that in the first wave of COVID, the peak demand was less than 3,000 MT/ day, which has surged to about 10,000 MT/day now, out of which over 4,000 MT is being provided by the steel plants, including those from the private sector.

Pradhan called upon the COVID care Centre at Burnpur to take care of all the people who are its stakeholders or live in the vicinity, including the contract labourers, local hawkers and shopkeepers. He said that it should be part of the safety protocol that those coming in the township can get health facilities there. The Minister said that testing and tracking facility should also be established in the centre. He said that besides providing amenities, the maintenance and cleanliness of the Centre should be undertaken by the ISP (Integrated Steel Plant). The Minister called upon the SAIL to undertake vaccination at a massive scale to cover its employees, their families, Contract employees, and others who are part of the ecosystem of the company.

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All the five Integrated Steel Plants (ISPs) of SAIL have taken upon themselves the task of setting up Oxygenated Covid care Hospitals. ISP Burnpur is first off the block to create 500 bedded Jumbo COVID Care Facility with the support of gaseous oxygen in phases. In the first phase, SAIL-ISP Burnpur has converted its 32 room Chhotadighari Vidyapeeth HS School into 200 bedded Jumbo COVID Care Facility which has been put to service on Wednesday. In a short time of less than 3 weeks, the school building has been renovated to meet the requirements of a hospital. A structural steel ramp has been created for smooth movement of patients to first floor. Provision of 8 bedded ICU has also been kept in the new facility. Necessary requirements for ICU like compressed air and suction line are being done. A 1.5 km pipeline has been laid to carry the gaseous Oxygen from the plant to the facility. The centre will be handed over to the district administration for operation, and the Plant will continue to provide free water, electricity and Oxygen.

The steel plants LMO supplies have been ramped up from 538 MT on April 1. On May 18, SAIL contributed 1345 MT of LMO while the steel sector's share was 3,914 MT.

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