Amid the ongoing oxygen conflict between several states and after being taken to task the previous night, the Central government told the Delhi High Court on Thursday that it has passed orders under the disaster management statute which will ensure there are no restrictions on the movement of medical oxygen between states and oxygen-carrying vehicles should be allowed to move freely between states.
The Delhi government had repeatedly complained that the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments were stopping their supply of oxygen amid a raging second wave of COVID-19 and severely depleted stocks. Following the complaint, the Union Home Ministry today issued an order under NDMA Act directing the states/UTs government and authorities to ensure the enforcement of measures suggested by the government in the order.
The government order said that no restrictions shall be imposed on oxygen manufacturers and suppliers to limit the oxygen supplies only to the hospital of the state / UT in which they are located free movement of oxygen carrying vehicles into the cities without any restriction of timings while also enabling inter-city supply without any restriction.
No authority shall attach oxygen-carrying vehicles passing through the district or areas for making supplies specific to any particular district or area, the government order said.
Supply of oxygen for industrial purposes, except those exempted by the government, is prohibited with effect from April 22, 2021 until further orders, the order said.
The statement said that States/UT shall strictly abide by the supply plan of medical oxygen prepared by EG-II and as revised from time to time.
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The district magistrates/ deputy commissioners/ Senior Superintendents of Police/ Superintendents of Police/ deputy commissioners of police will be personally liable for implementation of the above directions, the order read.