CM warns oxygen hoarders of strict action

‘Increase beds, govt will give oxygen’

All private hospitals need to increase beds. These will be supplied adequate oxygen by the government agencies and no punitive action will be taken in case of any mishap due to lack of oxygen.

Capt Amarinder Singh, CM

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 30

Taking stock of the continuing oxygen shortage in the state, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday warned of strict action against black marketing, hoarding or private profiteering of oxygen cylinders or smuggling out of Punjab, especially when oxygen allocation of Punjab was itself not being met.

Noting the efforts of the Industries Department to re-energise old oxygen plants, the Chief Minister said he was happy to note that the state was getting approximately 200 more oxygen concentrators shortly. “We have requested GOI to allot 3,500 out of one lakh being imported,” he revealed, while calling for all-out efforts for optimal utilisation of oxygen and regular oxygen audits. Some small amounts of Remdisivir and Toci have now become available, he further said, expressing the hope that the Centre “will respond to our requests to enhance the allocation.”

DGP Dinkar Gupta provided details of the steps being taken by the Punjab Police to manage seamless movement of oxygen tankers. Senior officers have been stationed at points of origin (Panipat, Roorkee, Baddi), as well as in the control room, he said, adding the police escort was being provided for the tankers. As many as 1,200 FIRs have been registered in these six districts since April 23 and 1300 arrests have been made, with over Rs 1 crore collected in fines during this period, on account of various Covid-related violations.