Maha seeks 200MT oxygen from Centre
The Maharashtra government has demanded 200 MT (metric tonne) Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) from the Central government on Tuesday. In addition to this, the state also demanded 10 LMO tankers to enable Maharashtra to lift the allocated LMO quota from Steel Plant at Angul via RoRo (Roll On Roll Off) Oxygen Express. Maharashtra chief secretary Sitaram Kunte wrote a letter in this connection to Cabinet Secretary, government of India, Rajiv Gauba. Meanwhile, all tankers carrying LMO in the state are being fitted with GPS devices in order to track their movement and ensure better management of supply of the life-saving gas to COVID19 patients.
Amid the rising numbers of infected patients, Thackeray is regularly taking stock of availability of oxygen, Remdesivir injections and beds. As the state is in need of more oxygen, the Chief Minister has instructed the chief secretary to make demand before the Central government regarding oxygen supply. Accordingly, Kunte has sent the letter.
In his letter, Kunte has said that Maharashtra’s
16 districts have been witnessing the rise in number of cases and they are in need of oxygen to treat the patients. Therefore, demand for oxygen has increased.
“Considering this situation of rising medical oxygen demand, I request you that present allocation of the state be enhanced by at
MT,” the chief said.
He also asked the central government to enhance the allocation at locations convenient to the state, otherwise, earlier allocation from RINL, Vizag, and Jindal Steel Plant, Angul, Odisha remains on paper only.
“My request is to enhance allocation from Jamnagar, Gujarat from the current 125 MT/day to
225 MT/day. Similarly, allocation from Bhilai may be increased to 230 MT from current 130 MT. These geographically close locations will reduce turnaround time of oxygen tankers, which are limited in number. This will also enhance our daily lifting and better demand management,” Kunte said.
According to his letter, Maharashtra is continuing to face the onslaught of a second wave of Covid pandemic with the current active caseload of 6,
63,758. Of these, 78,884 cases admitted are on medical oxygen including
24,787 in ICU units. Moreover, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Solapur, Nandurbar, Beed, Parbhani, Hingoli, Amravati, Buldhana, Wardha, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur- a total 16 districts- are showing continuous growth in Covid active cases and oxygen requirement.
“I assure you that we are taking oxygen audit in every district to contain the demand in every possible manner,” he wrote to the Union Cabinet secretary.
Meanwhile, 250 tankers are being used for the supply of LMO. least 200 secretary