PM Modi praises Tata Group move to ease oxygen woes in war on Covid

<p>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday praised the Tata Group's announcement on Twitter to import 24 cryogenic containers to transport liquid oxygen to meet the sudden surge in demand for the vital gas amid soaring cases of Covid-19.</p>
<p>
The announcement came soon after the Prime Minister's address to the nation in the hour of the Covid crisis. The Pm had said the government has ramped up efforts to meet the huge demand for oxygen.</p>
<p>
"PM Narendra Modi's appeal to the people of India is laudatory and we at the Tata Group, are committed to doing as much as possible to strengthen the fight against COVID-19. To mitigate the oxygen crisis, here is one such effort to boost health infrastructure," the Tata Group tweeted.</p>
<p>
They followed the tweet with: "The Tata group is importing 24 cryogenic containers to transport liquid oxygen and help ease the oxygen shortage in the country."</p>
<p>
Within minutes, the Prime Minister responded to the tweet praising the Tata Group's contribution.</p>
<p>
The PM said work to increase oxygen production is taking place at several levels with sensitivity and speed to meet the increased demand for medical oxygen due to the second wave of the pandemic.</p>
<p>
The Government has already issued orders to divert the supply of oxygen meant for industries to hospitals in the country to treat Covid patients. </p>
<p>
The government's move is aimed at plugging the oxygen gap in the country, particularly in the high-burden states – Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, according to the letter issued by the Home Secretary's office to all the chief secretaries of states.</p>
<p>
<strong>Railway green corridor</strong></p>
<p>
To ensure the quick movement of oxygen to hospitals, the India Railways is also running ''Oxygen Express'' over the next few days to transport liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders across the country. A Green Corridor is being created for the fast movement of these trains.</p>
<p>
The Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments had earlier approached the Railways Ministry to explore whether liquid medical oxygen tankers could be moved by the rail network.</p>
<p>
The government is also keeping a close track of oxygen stocks to match supply with the growing demand. Amid the sharp hike in the demand for oxygen, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has conveyed that this has already reached about "60 per cent of the total daily oxygen production", and is expected to rise further.</p>