Criticisms against CM not personal, external affairs department not in charge of import of oxygen

NEW DELHI: Union Minister V Muraleedharan said the criticisms levelled against the chief minister is not personal. It is unfortunate saying the chief minister is being criticised when things are asserted, he said.

Oxygen plants have been permitted in Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Ernakulam using PM Care Fund. It is not operational for almost a year in three other places except Ernakulam. Had demanded to release the number of beds available for treatment including in private hospitals. The high court had also said the same thing yesterday, he pointed.

It is said that the guidelines regarding the treatment rates in private hospitals was issued on July 20, 2020. This has not been implemented anywhere. Why the government did not intervene to reduce the treatment rate. He also asked why the state which has so many people relying on private hospitals, is not trying to implement an order like other states.

It has been noticed that the chief minister has sent a letter to the Prime Minister regarding oxygen. It is understood that the letter requested the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to import and distribute oxygen. Someone misled him that foreign affairs ministry is in charge of imports. Muraleedharan said the foreign ministry is not in charge of it.

The central government is taking steps to make oxygen available across the country using oxygen trains and planes. So far 2511 metric tons of oxygen has been delivered by train alone. He said it is the responsibility of the state government to ensure that there are tankers to deliver oxygen to all parts of the state after attaining it