Mamata writes to Modi, urges him to be fair and quick in PSA plant allotment

She also complained of lack of clarity in the intimation about the remaining plants

Accusing the Centre of steadily decreasing the proposed allotment of Pressure Swing Adoption (PSA) oxygen plants to West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that despite initially agreeing to provide 70 PSA plants to the state, the Centre is now saying that Bengal will get only four such plants in the first phase.

She further alleged that the Centre was repeatedly changing its stand with regard to supplying PSA plants to Bengal.

“Priorities are being fixed and re-fixed, implementing agencies (DRDO, NHAI) are being settled and unsettled, quota for West Bengal is being downwardly revised and further downwardly revised every day. We were told we shall get 70 PSA plants, now we are told that we shall get four in the first phase, with no clarity on the remaining PSA plants,” stated Mamata.

She further alleged that the state government’s efforts to set up PSA plants with its own funds were getting disrupted because of the “indecisiveness” of the Centre.

“I request you to kindly get the priorities, implementing agencies and quota fixed, justly, fairly and quickly,” stated Mamata.

PSA plants are expected to boost supply of oxygen to hospitals that are treating Covid-19 patients.

"I request you to kindly get the priorities, implementing agencies, and quota fixed, justly, fairly and quickly. Our own supplementary PSA-installation plans by state agencies... are getting disturbed because of the indecisiveness at Delhi," Banerjee added.

Last month, the Prime Minister's Office gave approval for allocation of funds from PM-CARES for installation of 551 pressure swing adsorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plants in public health facilities across the country.