The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday asked the Centre to consider reorientation of the supply of oxygen from various plants in a manner that the allocated quantity reaches the states before already allotted quota is exhausted. The court directions to the Centre came during hearing on a petition pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic management in Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh. Among other things, Punjab and Haryana raised the issue of a shortage of oxygen and its transportation while their common capital Chandigarh said it is now facing difficulty in procuring the required quantity of oxygen. The Bench said Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh may also consider the setting up of unified command centre for Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali (tricity), pointing out that it may be easier to tackle the present crisis caused by the pandemic. Baldev Raj Mahajan, Advocate General, Haryana, submitted that the state is facing extreme shortage of oxygen despite the fact that it has a plant located at Panipat, which is manufacturing 260 MT.

Source: Mint May 07, 2021 16:46 UTC