New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has written to various states and Union Territories (UTs) amid the spike in Covid-19 cases asking them to direct the District Collectors/Deputy Commissioners to list all the plants situated in their respective district, in which different types of oxygen is generated, along with the installed capacity and initiate action to revive the closed plants.
The MHA in a release said these efforts will ensure ready availability of oxygen at the district level besides supply of medical oxygen from usual channels.
The MHA issued an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, earlier on Thursday directing the states and UTs to take various measures to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen across the country.
In tune with the same, the MHA has written to all states and UTs today to ensure compliance with this order and to provide adequate security to oxygen-transporting vehicles and make provisions for exclusive corridors for such transportation while treating these vehicles like ambulances.
The MHA further said the Central Government has prohibited the supply of oxygen for industrial purposes, except those for few essential sectors through an order dated April 18, adding this has resulted in significant augmentation of the supply of medical oxygen.
“Steps are being taken to further reduce consumption of industrial oxygen by industries, which will augment the supply of oxygen for medical purposes,” the release added.
The MHA is also facilitating the movement of medical oxygen across the country as per the approved allocation plan.
“Indian Air Force has started transporting empty tankers after delivery of oxygen to destination State/ UT to oxygen producing locations to reduce movement time. With a view to making available additional tankers for the movement of oxygen, MHA is coordinating the lifting of high capacity tankers from abroad, such as Singapore and UAE by Indian Air Force transport planes. Further, the Ministry of Railways is running special trains carrying oxygen tankers across the country for faster movement,” the release said.
“MHA and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare are in regular touch with the States and UTs for promoting optimal use of medical oxygen and undertake periodic audits to ensure there is no wastage of medical oxygen and essential medicines,” the release added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who reviewed the Covid-19 situation in view of the sharp rise in cases and resultant increasing demand for medical oxygen across the country, has directed various measures to augment the supply of oxygen for medical purposes.
Accordingly, an Expert Group is optimizing and rationalising the allocation of oxygen to various states and UTs while keeping in view the active cases and reducing time for movement of medical oxygen.
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