Odisha police are creating a separate corridor for the movement of tankers carrying oxygen to ensure speedy delivery to states that are facing an acute shortage.
“Two more tankers are on the way from Jajpur to Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. A dedicated corridor has been put in place. Odisha police escorting the same. We are committed to ensure prompt transportation for the service of thousands of needy patients,” Odisha police tweeted on Friday.
It also released photos of cops escorting oxygen tankers to Indore and Mumbai. “Now two medical oxygen tankers. One for Indore, MP (21 ton) and second for Mumbai (25 ton) on way from Rourkela. Dedicated corridor established by Odisha Police for prompt and unhindered movement,” Odisha police tweeted.
Odisha police have taken this initiative after different states urged Odisha to send liquefied oxygen on an SOS basis. On Thursday, Delhi and Maharashtra chief ministers — Arvind Kejriwal and Uddhav Thackeray — profusely thanked Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik for helping them when both the states grappled with oxygen shortage.
“CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray spoke to CM@Naveen-Odishaji today to thank him for helping in procurement and transportation of oxygen from Odisha to Maharashtra and for standing by each other in these crucial times, as one nation truly!” tweeted the Maharashtra chief minister’s office.
Telangana on Friday airlifted oxygen tankers from Odisha using defence aircraft. “As per the direction of CM Sri KCR, State government has airlifted oxygen tankers to the liquid oxygen plants in Odisha state in defence aircrafts. This is the first instance of using aircrafts for bringing oxygen and will reduce procurement time by three days,” tweeted Telangana chief secretary office. The IAF has deployed two C-17 aircraft for the purpose.
“Tata Steel’s Kalinga Nagar Steel Plant, Tata Steel BSL Limited, Dhenkanal, Jindal Stainless Limited Jajpur, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Angul, Linda India Limited, Rourkela are providing the medical oxygen. The total capacity stands at 375 metric tonnes. We are in a position to dispatch more quantities of oxygen to different states,” said a senior official of the state health department.
Odisha is in an advantageous position in oxygen production compared to other states as it has several steel plants. Oxygen is needed for making steel from hot iron ore.
“We had never thought that steel industries will come as a big help in this way by sending oxygen and saving precious lives. We will ask all industries to set up oxygen plants in the coming days and become self-reliant,” said minister of steel and mines Prafulla Mallick.
