Amid rising Covid 19 cases in India, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that all arrangements have been made to import oxygen from Bhutan.

“There is a new oxygen plant being set up in Bhutan. Today, we have made arrangements to procure oxygen from there," news agency PTI quoted the minister as saying. "The oxygen level that we are able to manage, I think there will not be any problem until several thousand patients arrive at the hospitals," Sarma added.

The minister ruled out imposition of a lockdown in the state since he said that there will be no shortage of oxygen.

"When do we announce a lockdown? It is done when there is no oxygen, injection, medicine, kit in hospitals, then we get temporary relief by implementing lockdown," the minister said.

Meanwhile, the Centre has approved setting up of three oxygen plants in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. According to the Shillong Times, a plant each will be set up in East Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills district.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined the need to make these plants operational at the earliest – something that will enhance availability of oxygen in the region.

“In line with Prime Minister’s direction of boosting availability of oxygen to hospitals, the PMCARES Fund has given in-principle approval for allocation of funds for the installation of 551 dedicated pressure swing adsorption (PSA) medical oxygen generation plants inside the public health facilities in the country,” an official statement said.