E-Paper
Shah urges states to provide security for oxygen transport
The ministry has further written to states/UTs, to direct district collectors/ deputy commissioners to list all the plants situated in their district, in which different types of oxygen is generated, along with the installed capacity, the statement added.
The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Friday asked all states and Union territories to provide adequate security to oxygen transporting vehicles and to make provisions for exclusive corridors for such transportation, treating these vehicles like ambulances.
At a review meeting chaired by home minister Amit Shah, he directed an expert group to optimise and rationalise the allocation of oxygen to various states and UTs, keeping in view the active cases and to reduce time for movement of medical oxygen.
“In view of the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases and resultant increasing demand of medical oxygen across the country, Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah has reviewed the situation and directed various measures to augment the supply of oxygen for medical purposes. Accordingly, an Expert Group is optimising 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 a statement by MHA.
The ministry has further written to states/UTs, to direct district collectors/ deputy commissioners to list all the plants situated in their district, in which different types of oxygen is generated, along with the installed capacity, the statement added.
“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,” the ministry said.
Earlier, the ministry on Thursday directed states to make sure there was no hindrance in the supply of oxygen transporting vehicles, while invoking the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Within hours, the Delhi high court directed to ensure adequate security to the trucks transporting oxygen and their non-obstruction on the way as well as creation of a special corridor for immediate transportation.
In his letter to states/UTs on Friday, Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla pointed out that the Delhi high court “has further directed that non-compliance of its order will invite action for contempt of court and also invite criminal and penal action under DM Act and under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)”.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has already started transporting empty tankers after delivery of oxygen to destination state/UT to oxygen producing locations to reduce movement time.
The MHA is coordinating lifting of high capacity tankers from abroad, such as Singapore and UAE by Indian Air Force (IAF) transport planes. Further, Ministry of Railways is running special trains carrying oxygen tankers across the country for faster movement.
MHA and Ministry of Health and 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 statement added.
