Need 500 MT O2 from other states: Tope
State Health Minister Rajesh Tope seeks help from central government for oxygen supply
“80% to 90% of the available beds, oxygen, medicines and doctors are being used. Considering the growing numbers “of COVID-19 cases, lockdown is necessary to break this chain.
- RAJESH TOPE, HEALTH MINISTER
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, on Wednesday, said that the state needs 500 metric tonnes of oxygen from other states. At present 1,250 metric tonnes of oxygen is being produced in the state and about 300 metric tonnes of oxygen is being supplied from other states. He added that the state government has urged the central government to organise the supply of about 500 metric tonnes of oxygen from other states in view of the growing demand.
"At present, there are 6.85 lakh active COVID-19 patients in the state. It is estimated that about 10 per cent to 15 per cent of these patients may require oxygen. The state currently produces 1,250 metric tonnes of oxygen, which is used exclusively for medical purposes.
Apart from this, about 300 metric tonnes of oxygen is being supplied to Maharashtra from Jamnagar, Bhilai and Bhillari. The state government has requested the central government to increase it further to 500 metric tonnes," Tope said.
A total of 1,550 metric tonnes of oxygen is being used in the state at present. It is being distributed under the supervision of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the concerned district collectors, said Tope. There are six places in the state where oxygen is produced. However, it cannot be transported due to a lack of bottling plant facilities. Therefore, a decision has been taken to build temporary hospitals with a capacity of 500 beds in each of these six places, the health minister added. These six places are Pen, Thal, Wardha, Khaparkheda, Paras, and Parli.
“We are anticipating that 15 per cent of the active cases may need oxygen. As of now, we have arrangements of 1550 MT of oxygen in the state. We're trying to distrib
ute the same. We are also expecting the oxygen that the Government of India will import,’’ said Tope.
He said that the central government is going to import about 50,000 metric tonnes of oxygen. This will benefit the state too, he added. Tope reiterated that the government will impose a strict lockdown, as the new curbs introduced on April 14 have not yielded the desired results to break the virus chain.
As reported by the Free Press Journal, the bus and railway services will not be suspended. Even though there will not be a ban on inter-district movement, citizens will be asked the purpose of visiting at the checkpost.
"Even though the prime minister has said that lockdown will be the last resort, at present, 80 to 90 per cent of the available beds, oxygen, medicines and doctors are being used. Considering the growing numbers of COVID19 cases, lockdown is necessary to break this chain. Lockdown is required in the state,” noted Tope.