NEW DELHI: In the wake of reports of hold-ups and disputes over oxygen supplies, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Friday asked every state to ensure that no oxygen tanker, irrespective of which state it was meant for, was stopped or got stranded.
In an interaction with CMs of high burden states, the PM urged them to set up a high-level coordination committee to oversee oxygen supply to hospitals. The coordination committee should ensure that as soon as there was allotment of oxygen from the Centre, the medical gas was moved as per requirement to different hospitals.
The PM reviewed the
Covid-19
situation with the CMs and oxygen manufacturers. He assured states that there was a continuous effort to increase oxygen supply and that departments and ministries concerned were working together. Industrial oxygen has also been diverted to meet immediate requirements.
The PM said the Centre was working on all possible options to reduce the travel and turnaround time of oxygen tankers.
To improve the situation, the PM in a separate meeting asked oxygen manufacturers to utilise full potential to meet the demand for oxygen in the coming days. He stressed the need to increase availability of oxygen cylinders as well as upgrade logistics for transportation of oxygen. He urged industry to utilise tankers meant to transport other gases for oxygen supply.
Modi urged all states to work together and coordinate on supply of medicines and oxygen. He also asked states to check hoarding and black marketing.
While emphasising that vaccination against Covid-19 should not slow down in the current situation when infection is spreading fast, the PM also urged state administrations to continuously make people aware so that they do not indulge in panic buying.