Covid-19: Reorient oxygen supply for timely arrival in Punjab, Haryana, Centre told

CHANDIGARH: Considering the “critical” situation in Punjab, Haryana and the UT of Chandigarh on account of insufficient supply of oxygen, the Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the central government to consider reorientation of the supply of oxygen from various plants in such a manner that the allocated quantity reaches the region on time.
The high court made it clear that the reorientation is needed because there is an oxygen deficit in the region and filled containers of oxygen cannot be lifted by air and transported only by rail or road transport from remote areas, which would consume precious time needed to save Covid-19 patients.
“It appears that all three states, at this stage, are not seeking enhancement in the quantity of oxygen allotted to them but are aggrieved by delay in supply thereof. As a result of late delivery, the allocated quantity of oxygen is not able to reach the states well in time. We, thus, feel it necessary to direct the Government of India to consider reorientation of the supply of oxygen from various plants in such a manner that the allocated quantity reaches the respective states before the already allotted quota is exhausted to avoid loss of life,” ordered the high court.
Representing the Union government, Satya Pal Jain, additional solicitor general of India, however, assured the court that the matter would be considered immediately and appropriate steps would be taken.
A division bench comprising Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh of the high court has passed these orders after hearing the contentions raised by the amicus curiae and both the states of Punjab and Haryana and Chandigarh.
When the matter came up for hearing on Friday, senior advocate Rupinder Khosla, who has been assisting the court as amicus curiae, pointed out that there was a severe shortfall in the supply of oxygen to all three states within the jurisdiction of this high court. “The allocated quantity is either not being supplied or has been allotted from very distant places such as Rourkela and Jamnagar, the timeline for which is not conducive. By the time the arrangements are made, the states are virtually left starving for oxygen, resulting in many deaths,” Khosla told the bench.
Punjab advocate general (AG) Atul Nanda submitted that the state requires 300 MT oxygen, whereas the Centre has allocated 227 MT oxygen, which too is not reaching the state. A sufficient number of containers have not been allotted to transport the same, Nanda added. The Haryana AG also pointed out the insufficient number of containers needed to transport oxygen.
Baldev Raj Mahajan, the Haryana AG, also informed the HC that his state is facing an extreme shortage of oxygen despite the fact that it has a plant located at Panipat, which is manufacturing 260 MT.
“Instead of allowing the state of Haryana to get the supply from the plant at Panipat for the facility of transport as well as timely replenishment, it has been allocated far off places like Rourkela and Jamnagar. The resultant delay has led to several deaths in Haryana as well,” Mahajan told the bench.
Pankaj Jain, senior standing counsel for Chandigarh, said even the UT is now facing difficulty in procuring the required quantity of oxygen.
On a query from the bench, the Centre’s counsel Satya Pal Jain submitted that the allocation of oxygen is being done equitably to all the states in the country. No discrimination is being done and nobody has been given, out of turn, favoured status. According to him, certain difficulties are being faced in view of the fact that certain states do not have oxygen plants. They have also to be supplied oxygen.