With Covid surge, Telangana may face shortage of oxygen cylinders

HYDERABAD: The rapid increase in Covi d cases has not only created a huge demand for oxygen cylinders but has also triggered an increase in prices. According to manufacturers, price of liquid oxygen, which was Rs 10 per cubic metre before the pandemic, has now gone up to Rs 50 per cubic metre.
“There is definitely a shortage of oxygen in the state right now because of which it is being imported from other states. The transportation charges are one of the main reasons for increase in the price of liquid oxygen in the last few months as the demand is increasing due to rise in number of cases,” one of the manufacturers told TOI.
“As of now, we are procuring oxygen from Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. Until recently, we also used to import oxygen from Karnataka, but they have decided to stop exporting after facing shortage in their own state. Telangana might face problems in meeting the demand,” he added. When contacted, Drug Control Administration joint director Y Naveen Kumar said, “Currently, price of oxygen per cubic metre is Rs 17.49. Although the suppliers are still maintaining the oxygen price at Rs 17.49 per cubic metre, they are adding transportation and handling charges separately because of which the prices have gone up.”