Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to exempt life-saving drugs for Covid-19 patients and items associated with the supply of medical oxygen from customs duty and GST.

The chief minister wrote that the Bengal government was trying to augment the medical system, including infrastructure, equipment, medicine and oxygen, by seeking help from various organisations and individuals.

“We all are trying our best to face new challenges and making all efforts to channelize resources from different sources, including ensuring availability of life-saving drugs and oxygen for Covid treatment... However, many of the agencies have approached the State government to consider exemption of these items from customs duty/SGST/CGST/IGST,” the chief minister wrote.

Mamata had appealed for donations to the disaster management relief fund set up by the state government last year to deal with the pandemic more efficiently.

Sources said the chief minister had appealed to donate to the relief fund following a realisation that it was almost impossible for the state government to shoulder the Covid-related expenditure alone, particularly when the Centre’s assistance was negligible.

“The state is spending more than Rs 100 crore every month to provide free treatment to Covid patients at 100-odd dedicated hospitals in the state. Medicines and food for the patients also cost more than Rs 50 crore a month. So, the chief minister had sought help from different agencies and individuals,” said an official.

The sources said many organisations, as well as individuals, had come forward to help the state by donating drugs and other important components required in the treatment of Covid patients. But they have requested the state to exempt the items from GST or customs duty.

“A large number of organisations, individuals and benevolent agencies have come forward to donate oxygen concentrators, cylinders, cryogenic storage tanks, tankers and tank containers and Covid related drugs. Donations from these organisations will greatly supplement the efforts of the State government in meeting the huge gap in demand and supply,” wrote the chief minister.

The sources said Mamata had pointed out that all the support from agencies would help the state meet the gap in terms of medicine and oxygen to put pressure on the Centre, particularly when the state government was seeking help from Delhi repeatedly.

The chief minister made it clear that the onus was on the Centre to help the state get those equipments and medicines without much difficulties.

“As the rate structure falls under the purview of Central Government, I would request that these items may be exempted from GST/customs duty and other such duties and taxes, to help remove supply constraints of the above mentioned life-saving drugs and equipment and contribute towards effective management of Covid pandemic,” read the letter.

The state government is now trying to focus on arranging oxygen by setting up oxygen plants at hospitals themselves. “The state has plans to set up oxygen plants at 105 hospitals. But it will take some time. Till that time, we need steady supply of oxygen. If the Centre clears the chief minister’s proposal, the state would be able to manage the crisis,” said a senior official.