The first and foremost priority of the State Government was to ensure adequate supply of oxygen for health purpose so that no one faces hardship in want of oxygen. This was stated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while addressing the oxygen manufacturers in the State through video conferencing from Shimla today.Chief Minister said that during the corona pandemic it becomes duty of each one of us to help the community in best possible way to lessen the impact of this virus. He said that although the State was surplus in oxygen from production side but the only requirement was cylinders for transportation of the oxygen.Jai Ram Thakur said that the oxygen manufacturers in the State must ensure maximum production of oxygen so that the same could be used for saving the precious lives. He also felt the need for effectively stopping leakage and wastage of oxygen. He said that due to high flow required for covid-19 patients the oxygen consumption has also increased considerably. He said that the Central Government has fixed Liquid Medical Oxygen quota for the State to 15 MT. The State Government has urged the Central Government to increase the same up to 30 MT.Chief Minister said that the State Government would also increase production capacity of Oxygen Plant at IGMC by 20 MT. He said that this would ensure adequate oxygen supply in the biggest hospitals of the State. He said that efforts would also be made to increase production capacity of other oxygen plants in the State. He said that the State Government has also urged the Central Government to provide 5000 D Type and 3000 B Type cylinders to the State to meet out the demand.
Jai Ram Thakur said that State Government would ensure adequate and uninterrupted supply of electricity to all the oxygen plants situated in the State so that there was no dearth of oxygen and oxygen production goes smoothly. He said that the oxygen producers must also ensure uninterrupted and smooth supply of oxygen to various parts of the State so that people do not suffer for want of oxygen.Chief Minister said that the State Government would sympathetically consider various issues of the private oxygen manufacturers and would also ensure timely release of payment to them.Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has established Oxygen Control Room in all the Health Institutions for ensuring proper storage and usage of oxygen. He said that this Room would also monitor demand and supply of oxygen.Additional Chief Secretary Industries Ram Subhag Singh while welcoming the Chief Minister and others said that the department was ensuring all possible logistic support to oxygen manufacturers to ensure proper functioning of their plants.Owners of Oxygen Plants situated in the State viz. Sudhashu Kapoor, Suresh Sharma, Pushpendhar Mittal, Vishant Garg, Ajay Modi, Rohit Mittal, Harsh Gupta and Ravi Dhiman also expressed their views on the occasion.Commissioner Industries Hansraj Sharma, Special Secretary Arindam Chaudhary were present with the Chief Minister whereas Deputy Commissioners of Mandi, Kangra, Solan, Sirmaur and Una joined the meeting virtually.