SHIMLA: At present, the priority of the State Government was to ensure adequate
supply of oxygen for health purpose so that no one faced hardship in want of
oxygen. This was stated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while addressing the
oxygen manufacturers in the State through video conferencing from Shimla on
Friday.
He said that during the corona pandemic it was the duty of each one of us to
help the community in best possible way to lessen the impact of this virus. He said
that although the State was surplus in oxygen from production side but the only
requirement was cylinders for transportation of the oxygen.
Mr Thakur said that the oxygen manufacturers in the State must ensure
maximum production of oxygen so that the same could be used for saving the
precious lives. He also felt the need for effectively stopping leakage and wastage of
oxygen. He said that due to high flow required for covid-19 patients the oxygen
consumption has also increased considerably. He said that the Central Government
has fixed Liquid Medical Oxygen quota for the State to 15 MT. The State
Government has urged the Central Government to increase the same up to 30 MT.
Chief Minister said that the State Government would also increase production
capacity of Oxygen Plant at IGMC by 20 MT. He said that this would ensure
adequate oxygen supply in the biggest hospitals of the State. He said that efforts
would also be made to increase production capacity of other oxygen plants in the
State. He said that the State Government has also urged the Central Government to
provide 5000 D Type and 3000 B Type cylinders to the State to meet out the
demand.
He further said that State Government would ensure adequate and
uninterrupted supply of electricity to all the oxygen plants situated in the State so that
there was no dearth of oxygen and oxygen production goes smoothly. He said that
the oxygen producers must also ensure uninterrupted and smooth supply of oxygen
to various parts of the State so that people do not suffer for want of oxygen.
He also assured that the State Government would sympathetically consider various
issues of the private oxygen manufacturers and would also ensure timely release of
payment to them.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has established Oxygen
Control Room in all the Health Institutions for ensuring proper storage and usage of
oxygen. He said that this Room would also monitor demand and supply of oxygen.
Additional Chief Secretary Industries Ram Subhag Singh while welcoming the
Chief Minister and others said that the department was ensuring all possible logistic
support to oxygen manufacturers to ensure proper functioning of their plants.
Owners of Oxygen Plants situated in the State viz. Sudhashu Kapoor, Suresh
Sharma, Pushpendhar Mittal, Vishant Garg, Ajay Modi, Rohit Mittal, Harsh Gupta
and Ravi Dhiman also expressed their views on the occasion.
Commissioner Industries Hansraj Sharma, Special Secretary Arindam
Chaudhary were present with the Chief Minister whereas Deputy Commissioners of
Mandi, Kangra, Solan, Sirmaur and Una joined the meeting virtually.