New Delhi / Durgapur, 10 June 2021: Fulfilling its commitment to set up jumbo covid care facilities equipped with gaseous oxygen, SAIL’s second Covid Care Hospital with 200 beds is set up at Durgapur Steel Plant. Hon’ble Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan dedicated this 200-bed Covid Care Hospital to the nation today on 31.05.2021 in an online program. Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, Hon’ble Minister of State for Steel, Shri SS Ahluwalia, Member of Parliament from Durgapur, MLAs of the region and Smt. Soma Mondal, Chairman, SAIL and other senior officials from Steel Ministry and SAIL also joined the online inauguration.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan applauded the commitment of SAIL collective on acting very swiftly and setting up the second covid care unit within a short time.
Shri Pradhan said that the Centre will give boost to COVID-related medical infrastructure in the region and provide much needed help to the patients of the region. He said that SAIL’s both the steel plants in West Bengal at Durgapur and Burnpur have been standing strong to provide every possible help to the state in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. SAIL has strengthened the Bengal’s resolve to fight the pandemic. Recently, a 200 bedded COVID care facility at Burnpur was dedicated to the service of the nation. This was the first in the series of jumbo COVID care facilities being set up by SAIL in a fast-track mode.
Shri Pradhan said that under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the use of gaseous oxygen tapped from the source was conceptualized. He said that Durgapur’s facility is also in line with the Prime Minister’s call for “Jahan Bimaar, Wahin Upchaar” and Prime Minister’s philosophy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”.
Enumerating Prime Minister’s vision of taking everyone along, Shri Pradhan stressed upon vaccinating more and more people associated with the steel ecosystem including contract labourers.
This 200 bedded covid care hospital is fitted with supply of gaseous oxygen directly from plant through a dedicated pipeline. This has been set up in a two storied building with ladders on both sides including ramp for carrying critical patients and it is equipped with valve controlled gaseous oxygen supply from nearby Oxygen Plant. Another highlight of this hospital is its proximity to GT Road highway near CHRD, DSP, which will facilitate ease of access for the patients. There is backup oxygen batteries which are available near the Care unit with provision of alternate oxygen cylinders in case of accidental interruption in the supply of pipeline oxygen including separate rooms for the use of doctors, nurses & other health workers as well as kitchens, bathrooms and toilet facilities for the patients. It may be known that continuous medical oxygen, water and electricity will be supplied to the Care Unit on behalf of Durgapur Steel Plant.
It is the second covid care hospital by SAIL which has come up within a very short time, after the first one at SAIL’s IISCO Steel Plant few days earlier. These covid care hospitals are being set up after the company’s announcement to set up additional 2500 beds with gaseous oxygen, around its five integrated steel plants, apart from the already earmarked and beds extended for covid treatment in its hospitals.
