Govt to manage oxygen crisis

The Union government has decided to take matters in its own hand to prevent states from hindering the movement of liquid medical oxygen (LMO). It also placed four orders with foreign suppliers for 2,500 tonnes of the essential commodity. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also been instructed to airlift empty oxygen tankers and reach them to industrial units that have switched to producing medical grade oxygen.

“Domestic production of oxygen as of today is not short, but we are tying up imports to meet any contingency,” said a government official. Singapore, China and the Gulf countries will be the first countries to supply LMO to India, given their geographical proximity to the country.