New Delhi: The government said on Sunday that all major ports had been instructed to waive all charges for ships carrying oxygen and related equipment amid a large increase in COVID-19 infections across the country.
In a statement, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said it commands all major ports to give the vessels that have consignments of medical oxygen, oxygen tanks, oxygen bottles, portable oxygen generators and oxygen the highest priority to concentrators.
“In view of the excessive need for oxygen and related equipment in the country, the Government of India has instructed that all major ports, including Kamarajar Port Limited, waive all charges levied by Major Port Trusts (including vessel related levies, storage costs, etc.), ”reads the statement.
Port chairpersons have been asked to personally oversee logistics operations to ensure unimpeded transport of such consignments for the construction of such vessels, with the highest priority in port, unloading of oxygen-related cargo, coordination with Customs and other authorities for rapid clearance documentation and rapid evacuation. , it further said.
‘We are facing an emergency due to the second wave of COVID-19. The most important ports will start implementing the direction from today, ”said a senior government official.
In the event that the vessel transports other cargo / containers in addition to the said oxygen-related cargo, the waiver must be provided for oxygen-related cargo on a pro-rata basis, taking into account the total cargo or containers handled in the port. to such vessels, reads the statement.
The Ministry of Ports will monitor the details of such vessels, cargo and time it takes in port from the time the vessel is restricted in port to the exit of cargo from the port.
The government on Saturday waived customs duties on imports of COVID vaccines as well as oxygen and related equipment of medical quality.
India struggles with second wave of pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases reported over the past few days, and hospitals in several states are suffering from a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.
Source: Telangana Today