Lekha G –
The Supreme Court oxygen audit team reportedly said that the Delhi Government exaggerated the city’s oxygen requirement by four times at the peak period of Covid-19 second wave.
The audit team’s interim report stated that, “There was a gross discrepancy (about four times). The actual oxygen consumption claimed by the Delhi Government (1,140MT) was about four times higher than the calculated consumption as per the formula based on bed capacity (289MT).”
The Top Court by a Bench led by DY Chandrachud had directed the Centre to maintain oxygen supply of 700MT to Delhi even though the AAP Government presented experts’ calculations requesting the need for supply of 415 MT of LMO.
The Petroleum and Oxygen Safety Organization (PESO) has told the Supreme Court appointed team that the excess supply of oxygen to Delhi affected supply to 12 states in need of oxygen.
Further, the panel noted discrepancies in data submitted by Delhi hospitals and held four other hospitals for claiming high consumption of oxygen with fewer beds.
The panel is led by AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria along with Delhi Government Principal Home Secretary Bhupinder Bhalla, Max Healthcare Director Sandeep Buddhiraja and Union Jal Shakti Ministry Joint Secretary Subodh Yadav.
The case to be heard on May 30.