Beef up security at oxygen plant, Chandigarh tells police

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12

The UT Administration has asked the police to beef up the security at the oxygen generation plant in the Industrial Area, Phase-I, after repeated incidents of forceful refilling of cylinders was reported from the facility.

In a letter to Senior Superintendent of Police, Yashpal Garg, nodal officer for oxygen supplies in UT, stated that on May 6, some “influential persons”, who were not eligible to get their oxygen cylinders refilled, pressurised the officials and workers of M/s Super Agencies.

Subsequently, it was requested that appropriate security might be put in place on the premises of the plant, Garg said, and added that though some police personnel were deployed there from May 7, similar incidents happened on May 9 and 10.

Garg said yesterday around 9.45 pm, some persons tried to force the workers of M/s Super Agencies to get their cylinders refilled. There was scuffle with the workers and at that time, no police personnel were present there.

“The workers deployed at the oxygen generation plant seem to be quite frightened and any possible resentment may prove disastrous,” said Garg.

Considering that any shortage of oxygen to the hospitals in the city may lead to serious crisis, Garg requested the SSP to take action against those involved in the yesterday’s incident.

Garg also requested the SSP to look into the reasons for non-presence of police personnel at the time of the incident.

The UT has been allocated a daily quota of 20 MT of medical oxygen from M/s INOX, Barotiwala, by the Centre.

The private healthcare institutions are mostly dependent upon medical oxygen in cylinders.

To ensure smooth supply of oxygen to all healthcare institutions in Chandigarh, two officers have been stationed at the INOX plant.

The police escort has also been provided to the oxygen tankers from INOX plant to Chandigarh to reduce the travel time and avoid any untoward incident.

Garg further said three private vendors had been authorised for refilling of medical oxygen from the UT quota and officers had been stationed on their premises to ensure that oxygen cylinders are issued in regulated manner and there is no diversion.

A senior officer has been deputed to see the supply of oxygen to private hospitals, said Garg. Daily quota has been fixed for private hospitals and every hospital has been attached to either of the private vendor to avoid confusion, he added.

Fixed rates

The UT Administration has fixed the rates for refilling of medical oxygen cylinders. Yashpal Garg, nodal officer for oxygen supply, said the rates had been approved to ensure that refilling was done at the rate approved for the GMCH. With the consent of private refilling vendors, it has been decided that refilling of medical oxygen cylinders would be done at Rs295 for each ‘D’ type cylinder and Rs175 for each ‘A’ and ‘B’ type cylinder. Garg said any unauthorised refilling or supply of oxygen cylinders or overcharging would invite strict action as per rules.

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