Mamata writes to PM, seeks increase in supply of medical oxygen for Covid-19 treatment

Banerjee also said that the Centre hiked oxygen allocation for other states out of the total production in Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to increase the supply of medical oxygen to the state.

Indicating a shortage of medical oxygen in the State, Mamata stated that the daily requirement of oxygen in the State has gone up to 470 metric tonnes in the last 23 hours and is expected to increase further up to 550 metric tonnes in the next seven to eight days.

She urged the Prime Minister to increase the daily allotment of oxygen from 308 metric tonnes to 550 metric tonnes.

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“Considering the situation, I would request you to kindly have the allocation of MO (medical oxygen) reviewed and instruction issued for an immediate allocation of at least 550 MT per day of MO preferably out of the total produced MO in West Bengal,” stated the Chief Minister.

She also stated allocation less than the requested amount of oxygen supply may result in the “loss of lives” of patients in the state.

“However, instead of allocating the same a per the requirement of West Bengal, Government of India has increased allocation of MO to other States, from the total production in West Bengal, during the last 10 days fro 230 MT to 360 MT, keeping the allocation for West Bengal constant at 308 MT per day despite its requirement of 550 MT per day,” stated Mamata. She also stated that the daily production of medical oxygen in the State currently stands at 550 MT per day.

Meanwhile, the daily Covid-19 cases in the State inched closer to the 20,000 mark as Bengal recorded 19,216 cases and 112 deaths in the last 24 hours.