Oxygen row: Now, MHA steps in

With reports of states hoarding on oxygen or stalling its supply to other states coming from across the country, the Centre Thursday issued orders under the Disaster Management Act that no state can hold up supplies of oxygen to another state. It also made it clear that no restrictions could be imposed on “oxygen manufacturers and suppliers to limit the oxygen supplies only to the hospitals of the State/ UT in which they are located”. The development comes at a time when reports from across the country suggest that many states are not allowing oxygen trucks to leave their states in the fear that it may lead to a shortage for their own hospitals.