JOIN USEconomic interests cannot override human lives, cut down industrial use of oxygen immediately: Delhi HC
Observing that economic interests can not override human lives, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday favoured reducing steel and petroleum production to divert oxygen to Covid-19 patients.
A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli pointed out if the lockdown continued then everything would come to a halt and therefore, what would be the need for steel, petrol and diesel during such a situation.
The bench asked the Centre why it was waiting till April 22 to ban industrial use of oxygen, while human lives were at stake.
"Shortage is now. You have to do it (ban) now. Look into taking some oxygen from steel and petroleum industries. They have big pockets and big lobbies, but tell them if they have to cut production, then they can cut production. Lives have to be saved," the bench said.
The court cited the example of a central government counsel whose father was admitted in the hospital and was on oxygen support, but due to its scarcity, oxygen was being provided at a reduced pressure to him to conserve it.
"Can you ask him to hold on till April 22," the court asked.
It said if nothing was done, then "we are heading for a bigger disaster".
"We might end up losing nearly a crore of people. Are we willing to accept that," the bench asked.
It also suggested increasing the Covid beds in hospitals which have their own oxygen generating capacity.
The Centre maintained that there was presently no gap in oxygen supply to Delhi and that industrial use of oxygen was banned with effect from April 22.
However, there was inordinate increase of 133 per cent in the projected medical oxygen required, as on April 20, between the initial estimate of 300 metric tonnes and revised estimate of 700 metric tonnes submitted by Delhi, it said.
The government said all the States, including Delhi, have to rationalise the use of oxygen and prohibit abnormal usage.