As the country reeled under an unprecedented crisis arising out of shortage of oxygen and mounting COVID-19 cases, the Centre has decided to lift high capacity tankers from abroad, such as Singapore and the UAE using Indian Air Force transport planes. The move was discussed at a high-level meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday. The Indian Air Force has started transporting empty tankers after delivery of oxygen to destination states and Union Territories to oxygen producing locations to reduce movement time. Further, the Ministry of Railways is running special trains carrying oxygen tankers across the country for faster movement.
The MHA has, meanwhile, asked states to create “exclusive corridors for oxygen transporting vehicles” and ensure that adequate security by law enforcement agencies is given to such vehicles.
The meeting was held by Shah in view of the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases and resultant increasing demand of medical oxygen across the country.
The Union home ministry on Friday shot off a letter to states asking them to make “provisions for exclusive corridors for such transportation, treating these vehicles like ambulances.”
Shah directed the expert group set up by the government to immediately optimize and rationalize the allocation of oxygen to various states and UTs.
The MHA has further written to states and UTs to direct district collectors and deputy commissioners to list all the plants situated in their district, in which different types of oxygen is generated, along with the installed capacity.
“They should also take action to revive those plants, which are lying closed. These efforts will ensure ready availability of oxygen at the district level, besides supply of medical oxygen from usual channels,” said the ministry.
“It was reiterated that the central government has prohibited supply of oxygen for industrial purposes, except those for few essential sectors. Accordingly, an expert group is optimizing and rationalising the allocation of oxygen to various states and UTs, keeping in view the active cases and to reduce time for movement of medical oxygen,” said the MHA. The ministry had issued an order on April 22, under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, directing the states and UTs to take various measures to ensure uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen across the country.
“The Central government has prohibited supply of oxygen for industrial purposes, except those for a few essential sectors through an order dated April 18,” said the MHA in a statement. It said the move has resulted in significant augmentation of supply of medical oxygen and steps are being taken to further reduce consumption of industrial oxygen by industries, which will augment the supply of oxygen for medical purpose.
The MHA is also facilitating movement of medical oxygen across the country as per approved allocation plan.
The MHA and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are in regular touch with the states to undertake periodic audits to ensure there is no wastage of medical oxygen and essential medicines.
