J’khand CM writes to Guj counterpart, seeks help in averting oxygen crisis

Ranchi: Chief minister Hemant Soren has stepped up efforts to ensure that the state doesn’t face any oxygen crisis in the wake of increasing number of Covid-19 cases. After inspecting oxygen refilling plants on Sunday, Soren on Monday wrote a letter to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani. The Jharkhand CM wrote: “In light of the current situation prevailing in our country, where we are all reeling under the impact of the Covid-19 wave, I feel it is imperative that we work together to overcome this situation. My state, Jharkhand, is a surplus manufacturer of oxygen, the most vital lifesaving element in Covid treatment. Unfortunately, we are struggling with flow constraints in supply-chain due to the paucity of oxygen cylinders and the capacity of refiners available in Jharkhand. I have been informed that many of our orders of LMO tanks, vaporisers and cylinders are pending with manufacturers in Gujarat.”
He further sought the Gujarat CM’s assistance in getting the manufacturers concerned to expedite the delivery of the aforementioned orders. “I request you to intervene on our behalf and help ensure the timely delivery of LMO tanks, vapourisers and cylinders to Jharkhand,” he added.
The state government was also working to increase the number of oxygen-supported beds. Compared to about 2,500 oxygen-supported beds in the state until over a week ago, the government has now raised the figure to 10,000. A couple of days ago, Soren also launched Covid circuits in Ranchi and Jamshedpur to lessen the load on existing hospitals in these cities by putting to use the unutilised medical facilities in neighbouring districts.
Soren launched another 100-bed Covid care centre at a community health centre in Doranda on Monday and reviewed the ongoing work for setting up a 300-bed facility at the Rims multilevel parking.
Sources in the health department said that the state produces about 600 tons of oxygen daily while the existing requirement is close to 90 tons. “But owing to rising infections, the daily requirement is set to increase further. So the government is adding more oxygen-supported beds. Unfortunately, the state doesn’t have enough cylinders, vapourisers and LMO tanks,” an official said.