Union Minister of Steel and Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan dedicated a 200-bedded Jumbo COVID Care Facility by SAIL-ISP Burnpur, West Bengal for the care of COVID patients. The Minister of State for Steel Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Shri Babul Supriyo, South Asansol MLA Ms. Agnimitra Paul, and SAIL Chairperson Ms. Soma Mondal were among those present in the virtual ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan lauded the Steel sector for rising to the occasion, by fulfilling the majority of the requirements of liquid medical oxygen of the country. He said that the steel plants have shown IspatiIrada. 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 3000 MT/ day, which has surged to about 10,000 MT/day now, out of which over 4000 MT is being provided by the steel plants, including those from the private sector.

Shri Pradhan mentioning Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's call for setting up COVID-care centres near the production centres of gaseous oxygen, said that he is glad that today SAIL is starting its first such COVID-care facility with gaseous oxygen in Burnpur. He said that Gaseous Oxygen is difficult to transport over a long distance, and the Steel, as well as the petroleum sectors, have been quick to implement the directions, which will provide relief in this time of the pandemic.