New Delhi: Facing heat from state governments and various high courts for its apparent failure to oversee the supply of oxygen to hospitals across the country amid the high number of COVID-19 cases, the Central government on Thursday issued a notification under the Disaster Management Act to ensure uninterrupted transport of medical oxygen across state lines.According to news agency PTI, the notification directed state governments to ensure uninterrupted production and supply of medical oxygen and its transport along inter-state borders. District magistrates and superintendents of police of the district concerned will be held responsible if there is any violation of this order.The directive under the Disaster Management Act 2005 was issued by Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla in the wake of reports that some states blocked supply of medical oxygen to other states amid a spike in coronavirus cases and demand for it.Bhalla said the availability of adequate and uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen is an important pre-requisite for managing moderate and severe cases of COVID-19 and with the increasing cases, the medical oxygen supply will need to keep pace with the requirements of the states and union territories.“Therefore, to ensure the uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen across the country for management of COVID-19 patients, in exercise of powers conferred under section of the DM Act, the undersigned, in the capacity as chairperson, National Executive Committee, hereby directs the state and Union Territory governments and state and Union Territory authorities to ensure the following measures within their areas of jurisdiction,” the home secretary said.The order said there should be no restriction on the movement of medical oxygen between the states and transport authorities shall be instructed to accordingly allow free inter-state movement of oxygen carrying vehicles.No restrictions shall be imposed on oxygen manufacturers and suppliers to limit the oxygen supplies only to the hospitals of the state and the union territory in which they are located.There shall be free movement of oxygen carrying vehicles into the cities, without any restriction of timings, while also enabling inter-city supply without any restriction, it said.No authority shall attach the oxygen carrying vehicles passing through the district or areas for making supplies specific to any particular district or area, it further said.Supply of oxygen for industrial purposes, except those (nine specified industries) exempted by the government, is prohibited from April 22, 2021 and till further orders, according to the directive.The order said that the states and union territories shall strictly abide by the supply plan of medical oxygen prepared by Empowered Group-I and as revised from time-to-time.The district magistrates, deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police, superintendents of police, deputy commissioners of police will be personally liable for implementation of the above directions, it said.(With PTI inputs)
