Shortage, but Maharashtra told to give oxygen to Karnataka

MUMBAI: Even as Maharashtra is facing an acute shortage of oxygen, ministry of health & family welfare on Sunday told four leading manufacturers to provide 240MT oxygen to Karnataka. Seventeen firms will be supplying oxygen to Karnataka, so its allocation will increase from 1,015 to 1,200MT.
“Before issuing the order directly to companies, the Centre should have assessed the situation. Our daily requirement is 1,450MT, while only 1,250MT is available. We are also supplying 60MT oxygen to Tamil Nadu, 12MT to Goa and 10MT to Madhya Pradesh. MOHFW should have consulted us,’’ a senior bureaucrat told TOI.
As per the MOHFW order, Dolvi-based JSW will supply 40 MT, Chakan-based Inox 90MT, Linde (Murbad) 50MT and Linde (Taloja) 60MT. Besides Maharashtra’s production, the state is securing 125MT from Jamnagar, 130MT from Bhilai and 50MT from Bellary, while more than 55,000 patients out of 5.5 lakh are on oxygen.