Shillong, July 10: Fighting the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic has cost Meghalaya over Rs. 240 crore thus far, most of which has been on procurement of equipment.
“Approximately Rs 240 has been spent as expenditure for the second wave of COVID-19,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters on Friday.
Meghalaya had incurred an expenditure of over Rs. 400 crore for fighting the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
The expenditure incurred by health department, which include DHS and NHM, has mostly been on equipments used for fighting the infection ranging from prefab structures, procurement of items, oxygen cylinders besides salary components.
“We also have expenditures in the corona care centres and equipment including masks, ambulances and PPEs, labs surveillance, oxygen concentrators – so all these expenditures have come to about Rs 240 crore for the second wave,” he said.
The chief minister also informed the cryogenic oxygen plants at Jengjal and Shillong will be up within the next two weeks.
“In Shillong, the trial will start within one week time and after that once it is successful, these plants will be made fully operational. This will ensure that if we are hit by the third wave then we will be in a much better position in terms of the supply of oxygen for the long run,” he said.
