Centre diverted Bengal’s oxygen to UP, says Didi

Mamata skips PM’s meet, says not invited

In an explosive claim, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the Centre of diverting tonnes of oxygen from the state to others ruled by the BJP, such as Uttar Pradesh, after she skipped Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-level meet with other CMs on Covid-19.

At Durgapur in Burdwan West, the TMC supremo alleged: “Oxygen and medicines are unavailable here in the market. The oxygen, which was being supplied by SAIL to our state, is now being diverted to UP. The chain in Bengal is taken away to create scarcity of oxygen here. We have fixed the total oxygen, consumed in industrial units, for use in medical purposes. That means we have taken over industrial oxygen for health purposes.”

The CM added: “As a result, we were able to arrange 5,000 cylinders yesterday. Altogether, we have 20,000 cylinders in stock now. I have also spoken to another state for providing us oxygen supply as the Central

government wants to kill Bengal in every possible way. Where would I get my share of oxygen from since SAIL has been directed to supply it to UP? I also need to look into it. How can one state’s share be given to another? If there is a need, no discrimination should be made. I also have no objection in that case.”

Government sources said that as Ms Banerjee had skipped the CMs’ meeting with the PM, chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay represented West Bengal at the review meeting, held via video conferencing.

The CM’s grievance assumes significance as the state government stated: “The ministry of health and family welfare had recently, on 21st April, allotted 200 MT of oxygen from different plants located in West Bengal to outside the state.

As per the current patient load and the rising trend of infections, it is expected the consumption level in West Bengal will radically rise to roughly 450 MT per day in the next couple of weeks.”

It added: “Hence, present allocation of Liquid Oxygen to outside West Bengal will jeopardise the medical treatment of Covid patients in the state. Govt of West Bengal has accordingly requested Govt of India on 22nd April 2021 to consider the need of the state and NOT to divert the medical oxygen available in the state elsewhere.”

On Mr Modi’s latest meeting with CMs, Ms Banerjee said: “I heard about the PM holding a meeting today with only those ten states where the infection has been on the rise. We were not invited. If invited, I would have attended the meeting.”

Accusing the Centre of “negligence” in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic despite advisories from the WHO to stock oxygen, the Trinamul Congress chief also wondered why the BJP government cannot utilise the PM-Cares funds for supply of vaccines, oxygen and essential medicines.