New Delhi: A day after putting a ban on the use of liquid oxygen for non-medical purposes, the government on Monday allowed three sectors — ampules and vials, pharmaceutical and defence forces — to use the commodity.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla had on Sunday imposed a ban on the use of liquid oxygen for non-medical purposes, amid a scarcity of medical oxygen in many parts of the country, particularly in Delhi, that have been hit by a fresh wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter to states and Union Territories on Monday, Bhalla said that three sectors — ampules and vials; pharmaceutical and defence forces — have now been exempted from the ban order.
The Central government has taken a number of steps to deal with the medical oxygen crisis in some parts of the country due to the increasing demand as the second wave of coronavirus engulfed several states.
The central government is trying to source oxygen from different parts of the country and making available in worst hit states by running special trains.
It is also getting cryogenic tanks from countries like the Singapore and the UAE to transport oxygen, and sourcing oxygen concentrators from the United States.
Earlier on Sunday, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) banned use of liquid oxygen for any non-medical purpose and directed its manufacturing units to maximise production and make it available to the government for medical purposes only. The step was taken to ensure that there is no lack of oxygen in the Covid-19 hospitals across the country.
Similarly on April 22, the MHA had ordered to prohibit supply of oxygen for industrial purposes, except those exempted by the government.
The ministry had also issued a directive to states and Union Territories asking them to ensure that there are no restrictions in the supply of medical oxygen.
Availability of adequate and uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen is an important pre-requisite for managing moderate and severe cases of Covid-19 and with the increasing cases, the medical oxygen supply will need to keep pace with the requirements of the states and Union Territories.
(With Inputs From Nitesh Kumar)