Upcoming Somdal Oygen Plant a beacon for decentralisation
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, September 01 2021: The upcoming PSA Oxygen Plant at Somdal village in western Ukhrul region is being seen as an exemplary move towards decentralisation within the district.

Lack of decentralisation in implementation of developmental projects is often blamed for the prevailing backwardness in the hill districts of Manipur.

The latest move has kindled a hope for the government to initiate more steps in offsetting this imbalance in the coming years.

"I knew Ukhrul district headquarters certainly needed adequate oxygen facilities to cope with the surging critical Covid cases.

But, if the only two facilities approved for the district had been installed in the town alone, what would that mean for the remote villagers?" Chingai MLA Khashim Vashum said.

He said, "Considering the hardships of the remote villagers, I pressurised the relevant authorities to shift one of the two facilities to CHC Somdal.

The work progress for this is going on in full swing and it will be inaugurated very shortly" .

The MLA made a reference to the proposed two PSA Oxygen plants under PM CARES in the district, both of which were supposed to be installed at Ukhrul District Hospital (UDH) at Hungpung and its old site at Khampasom in the township.

"It was my immediate reaction that one of the oxygen plants should be relocated to an interior location, instead of the township having both.

And this was meant for greater benefits to the people, especially villagers in far-off corners," MLA Khashim told The People's Chronicle during an interaction in Ukhrul town recently.

He continued that an ideal location had to be worked out and accordingly, CHC, Somdal was selected, considering its reliable healthcare services and easy access by the neighbouring villages of the region.

Subsequently, on August 3 last, the MLA shot off a letter to the principal secretary (Health & Family Welfare) V Vumlunmang, asking for necessary steps to relocate one of the PM CARES PSA Oxygen plants to CHC Somdal.

Citing public interest for the move, he pointed out in the letter that "one new oxygen plant has recently been installed through Ministry of Tribal Affairs at UDH" .

Around the same time, the MLA had also instructed Ukhrul DC Joseph Pauline Kamson for necessary recommendation and other steps including inspection of the new site.

Notably, CM Biren had shared that the state government is keen to distribute healthcare facilities and other infrastructures to different remote corners of the state, during inauguration of a new PSA Oxygen Plant at UDH recently.

Meanwhile, sources said that construction of the upcoming oxygen plant having a capacity of 500 LPM at Somdal is almost complete, adding that civil work of the same have been completed.

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