Bhubaneswar: Amid shortage of medical oxygen across the country, Odisha, so far, has sent 90 tankers of the life-saving gas to other States, said Crime Branch ADG Yashwant Jethwa on Tuesday.
Odisha has been sending O2 tankers to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Haryana as these States are grappling with acute shortage of the gas for the treatment of Covid patients, Jethwa who is supervising the supply added.
“90 tankers carrying 1676 MT medical oxygen has been sent from Odisha. Special arrangements have been made so that the gas-tankers can reach hospital with ease,” the top cop said.
Arrangements have been made to fill the empty cylinders and a special corridor has been formed for the smooth movement of the these tankers, he informed.
Odisha Police is in contact with their counterparts in other States so that the life-saving can be easily sent to maximum hospitals.
Notably, Odisha is producing 6,700 tons of oxygen daily at its 24 steel plants. While Tata Plant in Kalinga Nagar, Utkal Alumina, Jindal and Bhushan plants are producing 6000 tons, the remaining 700 tons are being produced by other plants.
Last week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had extended his gratitude towards Odisha for supplying oxygen during the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
Through a tweet, Kejriwal also thanked Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who assured him of all support in facilitating lifting of oxygen quota from Odisha. Patnaik has engaged a special officer on the job, the Delhi CM had tweeted.
(Edited By Ramakanta Biswas)