An inspection of the Pune stores was carried out on Friday.
After the issue of low availability and black marketing of oxygen in some states was raised in Parliament, the Home Office (MHA) has written to states not to block the movement or supply of oxygen as it is essential to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. .
In a letter to the chief secretaries of all states, Interior Secretary Ajay Bhalla said that some states are holding back oxygen supplies by issuing orders under the Essential Products Act or the Epidemic Diseases Act.
“It has become apparent that some states are attempting to curb the interstate movement of oxygen supplies from manufacturing units located in their respective states by exercising the provisions of the Epidemic Disease Act of 1897, the Disasters 2005, The Essential Products Act or any state / UT specific Essential Services Act, the Indian Penal Code of 1860 (or any other related law) and also forcing manufacturers / suppliers located in the state to restrict their oxygen supplies to state hospitals, ”Bhalla wrote.
He said medical oxygen is a public health commodity and any impediment to its supplies can have a critical impact on the management of Covid-19 patients.
.
