Ensure no oxygen tanker is stopped by any state: PM Modi to CMs at meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday promised all the chief ministers that there will be an allotment of oxygen from the centre immediately. The Prime Minister also asked states to ensure that tankers carrying oxygen are not stopped or delayed by any means.  

The directive comes after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the national capital is facing an 'acute shortage' of oxygen for COVID-19 patients. The Chief Minister said that some states like Haryana are blocking the supply of oxygen. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a crucial COVID-19 meeting with the chief ministers of 12 worse hit coronavirus states in the country. 

Modi also asked the states to form high-level coordination committees that will facilitate the transportation of medical oxygen to different hospitals. These committees would ensure oxygen is allocated to hospitals as soon as it is allotted to states by the Centre. 

Assuring the 'high COVID-burden' states of support from the centre, he called for the states to remain united in the fight against the virus. He said the basis of India's success during the first wave of the pandemic was its united efforts and united strategy and reiterated that the country will have to address this challenge in the same way. 

PM Modi stated that the Centre is working on all possible options to reduce the travel time and turnaround time of oxygen tankers. "For this, Railways has started Oxygen Express. Empty Oxygen tankers are also being transported by the Air-Force to reduce one way travel time," he added. 

The meeting by Prime Minister Modi comes at a time when the national capital and the neighbouring states are crippling due to the oxygen crisis.