TamilNadu would require 450 MTS oxygen cylinder shortly which would be more than our production capacity of 400 MTS.
Chennai: TamilNadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy todayon 25th April wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the central government to stop diverting the production of medical oxygen from TN to other states.
This comes a day after Health Minister Vijayabhaskar informed that Tamilnadu has excess capacity of 160 MT of medical oxygen and that the state is in a good position. He said that TN currently uses 240 MT of its 400 MT production capacity.
In his letter TN CMsaid as follows, "I would like to draw your kind attention to the growing Medical oxygen needs of the state, due to high level of oxygen dependant active cases and the need to ensure adequate oxygen availability in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The state is taking all efforts to reduce the positive cases but considering the current trends, the state would require 450 MTs shortly which would be more than our production capacity of 400 MTS.
As compared to the maximum active case number of around 58,000 during the previous surge in 2020, the active caseload has already increased to over a lakh today. This has increased the oxygen demand as stated above. All efforts are being made to provide uninterrupted and adequate oxygen supply.
In the meanwhile, in the latest National Medical Oxygen allotment plan allocation for Tamil Nadu has been fixed at 220 MTS and based on this wrong allotment, 80 MTs of liquid oxygen has been diverted from the manufacturing facilities located at Sriperumpudur, Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
This is based on the wrong position that the existing oxygen consumption in Tamil Nadu is lower than the manufacturing capacity. On this issue, I wish to bring to your kind notice that as per Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisations (PESO) data, the consumption of oxygen in Tamil Nadu has already reached 310 MTs as against the inadequate allotment made to the State of only 220 MTS.
Also, the states to which the allotment has been made have lower number of active cases than us and also have major steel industries located within the their state/close to their States.
Hence, the diversion from Sriperumpudur plant which supplies to Chennai City with the second biggest case load in South India seems to have no justification. This needs to be immediately corrected. While Tamil Nadu has never imposed any restrictions so far and is always ready to support other states, such mandatory diversion of liquid oxygen from the needs of our state can lead to major crisis in Chennai and other districts.
Hence, I request that diversion of 80 KL from Sriperumpudur plant, in Tamil Nadu may immediately be cancelled." He said.
It’s good the government is getting prepared for any more damaging trends with regard to Covid infections. This also gives the public a fair idea of the situation that is ahead of them. Stay safe and stay home if possible and follow all safety precautions.