Delhi seeks to store oxygen ‘excess stocks’ in other states

After demanding adequate supply of oxygen from the Centre last week, Delhi now seeks help to store excess stock of liquid medical oxygen (LMO), from other states. Owing to the logistical hurdle which supposedly resulted into the increased turnaround time for the tankers and paucity of space to store the liquid medical oxygen, Delhi is now seeking help for storage facilities from neighbouring states.

On May 11, the Indian government’s Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) had written to the additional secretary at the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) under the commerce ministry, said that excess LMO was available with Delhi, but authorities there could not ensure smooth supply from manufacturers as well as availability of tankers. As per the findings conducted by PESO, Since May 9, the Delhi government has been trying to get alternate storage space in nearby states, especially at the LMO manufacturers’ premises, to store excess LMO in their storage tanks.

It is also revealed that on May 10, the Delhi government lifted had lifted only 150 MT of LMO on from their plants at Panipat and Roorkee against the allocated quota of 190 MT and then returned the remaining back to the plant due to non-availability of storage space or less demand in Delhi and requested not to release 42 MT of LMO from Panipat and Roorkee Plant and rather store the remaining amounts in their storage tanks.