Covid Battle: SC Lauds Mumbai Model, Asks Centre & Delhi Govt To Talk With BMC Officials

Taking note of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s submissions that Mumbai managed with 275 MT of oxygen even when the active cases had crossed 92,000, an apex court bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud said: “There is a wealth of information coming in every day. Bombay Municipal Corporation is doing some great work, with no disrespect to Delhi. What they are doing, how they are managing. We can learn from them. I also understand that Maharashtra also produces oxygen which Delhi cannot do.”

Mumbai: A senior citizens receives COVID-19 vaccine shot, during a drive-in vaccination that is claimed to be the first in India, in Mumbai, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Applauding the Mumbai model in ensuring oxygen supply to the Covid-19 patients, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and the Delhi Government to talk with the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials to learn about augmenting and managing the supply.

Taking note of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s submissions that Mumbai managed with 275 MT of oxygen even when the active cases had crossed 92,000, an apex court bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud said: “There is a wealth of information coming in every day. Bombay Municipal Corporation is doing some great work, with no disrespect to Delhi. What they are doing, how they are managing. We can learn from them. I also understand that Maharashtra also produces oxygen which Delhi cannot do.”

Mehta on his part said: “I do applaud the Mumbai model. It is not a political model. As an officer of the court, not for Centre or state, we need to find a solution. People cannot run from pillar to post. This is not to undermine the efforts of Delhi.”

The apex bench also comprising Justice M R Shah asked the Chief Secretary and Principle Health Secretaries of Delhi Government and the officials of Central Government to have a discussion with the Commissioner of Mumbai’s civic body on their model of augmenting oxygen supply.

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If this can be done in Mumbai, which is an incredibly congested city, then it can be done in Delhi as well, the bench said and asked officials of Delhi and Central governments to talk to Mumbai’s concerned officials on creation of storage tanks and buffer storage, PTI reported.

The observations were made during the hearing and in the order of the top court which stayed contempt proceedings initiated by the Delhi High Court against the Central Government officials for non-compliance of direction to supply 700 MT of oxygen for Covid-19 patients to Delhi.