Centre rushing 17,000 tonnes of oxygen to Covid-hit states as PM takes stock of situation

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a special inter-ministerial meeting on Friday to ensure adequate oxygen supply to the worst Covid-hit states such Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh, Tamil Nadu Karnataka, Punjab  and the capital city of Delhi.</p>
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According to an official statement, plans were drawn up to rush 17,092 metric tonnes of medical oxygen to these states. While all oxygen plants in the country have been told to work round-the-clock, oxygen is also being moved from steel plants to the 12 states which have seen the highest surge in Covid-19 infections. </p>
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Prime Minister Modi asked states to source medical oxygen from industrial plants, as supplies across the country have fallen short of meeting a demand surge due to a record-increase in COVID-19 infections.</p>
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PM urged officials to ensure seamless and free movement of tankers carrying oxygen throughout the country. The Government has exempted all interstate movement of oxygen tankers from registration of permits to enable easier movement, the official statement said. </p>
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The Prime Minister was informed that States and transporters have been asked to ensure tankers move round the clock with drivers working in shifts to ensure faster turnaround and adequate capacity to meet the surge in demand. Cylinder filling plants will also be permitted 24 hour working with necessary safeguards.</p>
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The Government is allowing industrial cylinders to be used for medical oxygen after due purging. Similarly nitrogen and argon tankers will be automatically allowed to be converted to oxygen tankers to overcome the potential shortage of tankers.</p>
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The PM directed that production of oxygen be raised to the maximum capacity of each plant. It was also discussed that surplus stocks of oxygen supply in steel plants are being offered for medical use. </p>
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Officers also briefed the PM about the efforts being made to import medical grade oxygen.</p>
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Inputs from ministries like Health, DPIIT, Steel, Road Transport, etc were also shared with the PM. He stressed that it is important to ensure synergy across ministries and state governments.</p>
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PM Modi took a detailed review of the current situation of oxygen supply and projected use in the coming 15 days across 12 high burden states (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan). An overview of the district level situation in these states was presented to the PM.</p>
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He was informed that the Centre and States are in regular contact and estimates for projected demand have been shared with states as on 20th April, 25th April & 30th April. Accordingly, 4,880 metric tonnes (MT), 5,619 MT and 6,593 MT have been allocated to these 12 states for meeting their projected demand as on 20th April, 25th April and 30th April, respectively.</p>