Oxygen Must be Supplied to Hospitals Only: Chandra Mohan Patowary

'500 MT of liquid oxygen being presently stored in State'

STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI:

Oxygen Supply Crisis in Assam: Considering the spike in COVID-19 cases, oxygen-producing plants in Assam will have to supply the item only to hospitals (both government and private). The Health Department will notify the quantity of oxygen that they will have to supply for COVID-19 patients to the different hospitals. This has been informed by State Industries & Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary here on Tuesday.

Talking to The Sentinel, Patowary added, "The step has been taken following the Centre's directive. From now on, the oxygen-producing plants will not be allowed to supply oxygen to other industries. An order has been already issued in this regard."

He pointed out, "As on date, there is no shortage of oxygen in the State. Our daily oxygen-production capacity is 61 metric tonne (MT). Besides, 500 MT of liquid oxygen is being presently stored in the seven plants across the State. Moreover, the plant in Byrnihat (on the Meghalaya side) supplies oxygen to both Assam and Meghalaya."

On the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) mandating only 50 per cent passengers in buses (including those plying within the Guwahati city), the Minister said, "It has come to our notice that many bus conductors are charging fares that are above the stipulated rates. I request the bus owners and bus associations not to impose an additional burden on the passengers during the pandemic situation.

"In this regard, the buses plying under ASTC (Assam State Transport Corporation) have already clarified that they are collecting just the normal fares."

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