Shivangi Prakash –
Published on August 05, 2021, at 10:17 AM
On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court stated that it is unclear whether the Centre and the Delhi Government had created a buffer supply of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) in the National Capital to deal with the anticipated third wave of Covid-19.
“We have been flagging this issue ever since Supreme Court passed an order. What have you done,” a Division Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh asked Advocate Kitiman Singh, appearing for Centre
The Bench was referring to a Supreme Court ruling dated April 30 that directed the Central Government to collaborate with the States to establish LMO buffer reserves. It further said,
“Today if you look at the situation, it seems fine. But if you look at what happened between March and May? There is no escape from this. This (buffer stock) is like insurance. What happens to the order of the Supreme Court? The obligation is on you. You have to take action. Please don’t defer,”
The Court also questioned Singh on why free vaccine distribution was not included under CSR.
The Bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) over the Covid-19 issue. Amicus Curiae and Senior Counsel Raj Shekhar Rao testified throughout the hearing that the Government claims to have developed buffer stock capacity. However, it is unclear whether there is a buffer in the affidavit.
“There is a difference between capacity and buffer. We don’t need empty vessels,” he submitted.
The Delhi Government informed the Court on Wednesday that the national capital’s overall storage capacity is currently around 1400 metric tonnes, with 250 MTs of re-fillers, 724 MTs of capacity in existing hospitals, and 421 MTs of extra buffer, of which 221 are already placed.
The State Administration assured the Court that a 50 MT tank would be erected by August 10 and that three 50 MT tanks would be completed by August 18.
The State Government also told the Court that it had a buffer stock of medical oxygen of roughly 420 MTs with sources outside of Delhi.