The Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Sunday has written to Chief Secretaries of States and Administrators of Union Territories reiterating that they should issue necessary instructions to all authorities concerned in their States and Union Territories to take necessary measures to prohibit supply of oxygen for industrial purpose, except in nine industries as allowed by Union Health Ministry.
“This is keeping in view the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases in various parts of the country and the resultant rapid demand for medical oxygen, particularly in high-burden States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, etc.
“The letter of the Union Home Secretary follows the decision taken by the Central Government today, on the recommendations of the Empowered Group-II, that the supply of oxygen for industrial purposes by manufacturers and suppliers is prohibited (except in nine industries) forthwith from 22.04.2021 till further orders, so as to augment supply for medical oxygen in the country and to save precious lives,” said Home Ministry in a statement.
The nine sectors allowed for industrial oxygen production are medical, pharma, petro, nuclear, steel and food and water purification sectors. Union Health Ministry wrote a separate letter to the States on this regard on Sunday on the exemption of sectors in industrial oxygen production.
