Punjab, Haryana want O2 supply from nearby areas, HC asks Centre to examine

The Punjab and Haryana governments on Tuesday flagged the issue of shortage of oxygen supply and delay being caused due to transportation from far off places, prompting the high court to ask Centre to examine the same.

During the resumed hearing of a suo motu plea initiated by high court on Covid-19 situation management, Punjab government told high court that on May 2, consumption of Oxygen in Punjab was around 225-230 metric tonnes (MT), which is increasing day by day due to increasing patient load. Centre has allocated 227 MT.

Over 80 per cent of it is coming from Uttarakhand, Panipat, Roorkee, Barotiwala, and Bokaro. 105 MT is given from states of HP, Haryana and Uttaranchal of which only up to 90% is being lifted because the number of tankers is limited. Further, the 90MT from Bokaro remains unlifted to the tune of 60% because of long distance and massive logistical challenges, it told the high court. The state be allotted oxygen from the plant(s) situated nearby, the government requested the court.

It further apprised the court that oxygen from Centre’s quota is not being received regularly, which may lead to shortage of supply, hence, the Centre be directed to adhere to supply the allocated quota.

As of Haryana, it told the high court that it has production capacity of 271MT and demand is of 270MT. The Centre has allocated 232MT oxygen on April 28. The state has approved a proposal to bring 70MT per day from Orissa. However, it is in transit and would reach the state in due course of time. If a timely supply of oxygen is not made, the situation is so critical that several lives may be lost in the state in the next 24 hours, the Haryana government told the court, demanding that it be allowed to get oxygen from plants within the state from where allocation has been made to other states.

Responding to the demand, the Centre told the court that the issue is being examined seriously and a decision would be taken very soon. The court while adjourning the matter for May 7 has asked the Centre to apprise it about the issue on the adjourned date.