Ensure unhindered supply of oxygen to states, UTs: PM Modi tells officials

Amid the oxygen crisis in several hospitals across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation and directed the concerned officials to ensure that oxygen is supplied to various states and Union Territories (UTs) in a smooth and unhindered manner.

The PM said that there is a need to fix responsibility with the local administration in cases of obstruction. He also stressed that the states should come down heavily on hoarding. He also spoke about the need to work rapidly on multiple aspects - increasing the production of oxygen, increasing the speed of distribution and using innovative ways to provide oxygen support to health facilities.

The officials briefed the PM on the efforts undertaken in the last few weeks to improve the supply of oxygen. There has been an increase in the demand for oxygen due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country in the second wave of the pandemic.

According to an official release, the Prime Minister was informed that an elaborate exercise is being done in co-ordination with the states to identify their demand for oxygen and ensure adequate supply accordingly.

The Prime Minister also asked the concerned ministries to explore various innovative ways to increase the production and supply of oxygen.

He was briefed on how oxygen supply to states is steadily increasing. Against the present demand from 20 states of 6,785 MT per day of Liquid Medical Oxygen, the Centre has allocated 6,822 MT/ day to these states from April 21.

It was noted that in the last few days, availability of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) has been increased by about 3,300 MT per day with contributions from private and public steel plants, industries, oxygen manufacturers as well as through prohibition of supply of oxygen for non-essential industries.

The release said that various measures are being undertaken to rapidly increase the availability of cyrogenic tankers through conversion of nitrogen and argon tankers, import and airlifting of tankers as well as manufacturing them.

The meeting was attended by Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to PM, Home Secretary, Health Secretary and some other senior officials.