Cabinet secretary to chair meeting with 11 state secretaries on oxygen shortage

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 19

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba will chair a video conference on the issue of medical oxygen with the Chief Secretaries and senior officials of the states and UT of Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh, UP, AP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Delhi at 3 pm on Monday.

There have been reports of shortage of the medical oxygen for COVID-19 patients in different parts of the country in the last few days due to a surge in cases. 

The meeting is scheduled at 3 pm and it will be held virtually.  

The cabinet secretary has convened a video conference for Monday on the issue of medical oxygen with chief secretaries and senior officials of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Delhi, a government official said The Centre on Friday had directed states to ensure uninterrupted movement of medical oxygen carrying vehicles borders and said that they must not impose any curb on production and supply of the essential public health commodity anywhere. 

On Sunday, the government banned supply of oxygen to industrial units, except in nine specified categories. 

The action came in the wake of reports of shortage of medical oxygen, which is crucial in treatment of coronavirus patients.--with PTI