Rajasthan health minister Raghu Sharma on Monday accused the Centre of discrimination in the distribution of oxygen, needed for Covid-19 patients, claiming that 1,200 metric tonnes was being sent to BJP-ruled Gujarat while his state had got only 124 metric tonnes although both had reported similar numbers.
Referring to a liquid oxygen plant in Alwar which was under the state’s control, the minister said: “There was no lack of oxygen last time. This time, when there is more need of oxygen, the Centre has taken over all the medical oxygen generator plants and the oxygen distribution network.”
“There are an equal number of Covid-19 cases in Rajasthan and Gujarat. In Gujarat, 1,200 metric tonnes oxygen is being supplied, whereas Rajasthan is getting only 124 metric tonnes,” he said.
Rajasthan has a Congress government.
“If oxygen is not made available adequately, how will we save lives of people?” the minister asked.
On Sunday, Union minister Piyush Goyal had advised state governments to keep demand for medical oxygen under control, triggering outrage.
“Demand-side management is as important as supply-side management. Containing Covid spread is the responsibility of state governments and they should fulfil this responsibility,” Goyal said.
Sharma said the Rajasthan government has ordered 1,500 oxygen condensers, which will provide oxygen to 3,000 patients, but more oxygen will be required to fight the disease.
The health minister also targeted the Centre over the shortage of vaccines, and said seven lakh vaccine doses are required daily in the state.
The Rajasthan government wrote to the Prime Minister and the Union health minister, after which the state received 14 lakh doses, which will be administered in two days, Sharma said. The state has storage capacity and a stock of 15 days should be provided, which will help it save many lives, he added.
Sharma said the shortage of tocilizumab and remdesivir should also be addressed by the Centre.
Sharma appealed to people to follow lockdown-like restrictions during the “Public Discipline Fortnight” which began on Monday.
