40-3/2020-DM-I(A)
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs
North Block, New Delhi
Dated 22nd April, 2021
ORDER
Whereas, an Order bearing No. 40-3/2020- DM-I(A) dated 23.03.2021, alongwith guidelines for effective control of COVID-19 have been issued under section 10(2)(1) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as the DM Act) wherein, inter alia, it is mandated that there shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods;
And whereas, due to rapid rise in COVID-19 cases and with increasing case positivity rate, various States/UTs have imposed some additional restrictions on certain activities and weekend lockdowns/curfews etc. to break the chain of transmission and to contain the spread of Covid-19;
And whereas, the availability of adequate and uninterrupted supply of Medical Oxygen is an important pre-requisite for managing moderate and severe cases of COVID-19 and with the increasing cases, the medical oxygen supply will need to keep pace with the requirements of the States/ UTs;
And whereas, medical oxygen is an essential public health commodity and any impediment in the supplies of Medical Oxygen in the country may critically impact the management of patients suffering from COVID-19 disease in other parts of the country;
And whereas, Empowered Group-II (EG-II), is mandated for coordinating medical logistics, including medical oxygen. EG-II has reviewed the supply of oxygen for industrial use in order to divert the same to meet the rising demand for medical oxygen in the country and save precious lives. Accordingly, EG II has recommended to prohibit the supply of Oxygen for industrial purposes by manufacturers and suppliers forthwith from 22.04.2021 till further orders, with the exception of nine specified industries. The recommendations of the EG-II have been accepted by the Central Government and the said decision, alongwith the list of nine exempted industries, have been conveyed by Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, vide his DO letter dated 18th April 2021 (Annexure-I).
And whereas, keeping in view the requisitions of Medial oxygen and to ensure smooth supplies of it to the States/ UTs concerned, EG-II, in consultations with the States/UTs and oxygen manufactures etc., prepares supply plan, which is required to be followed by all States, UTs and all the agencies concerned. The oxygen supply plans, as revised from time to time by EG-II based on the assessment of the situation, are circulated by MoHFW to all the States/UTs concerned, and the last revised plan has been circulated vide MoHFW letter dated 21.04.2021 (Annexure II);
Now, therefore, to ensure the uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen across the country for management of COVID-19 patients, in exercise of powers conferred under section 10(2)(1) of the DM Act, the undersigned, in the capacity as Chairperson, National Executive Committee, hereby directs the State/Union Territory Governments and State/ Union Territory Authorities to ensure the following measures within their areas of jurisdiction:
(i) No restriction shall be imposed on the movement of Medical Oxygen between the States and transport authorities shall be instructed to accordingly allow free inter-state movement of oxygen carrying vehicles;
(ii) No restrictions shall 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;
(iii) There shall be free movement of oxygen carrying vehicles into the cities, without any restriction of timings, while also enabling inter-city supply without any restriction;
(iv) No authority shall attach the oxygen carrying vehicles passing through the district or areas for making supplies specific to any particular district(s) or area;
(v) Supply of oxygen for industrial purposes, except those exempted by the Government, is prohibited w.e.f. 22’d April, 2021 and till further orders;
(vi) States/UTs shall strictly abide by the supply plan of medical oxygen prepared by EG-II and as revised from time-to-time;
(vii) The District Magistrates/ Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police/ Superintendents of Police/ Deputy Commissioners of Police will be personally liable for implementation of the above directions.
Union Home Secretary
and, Chairman, National Executive Committee (NEC)
To,
1. Secretaries of Ministries/Department of Government of India
2. Chief Secretaries/Administrators of States/Union Territories (As per list attached)
Copy to:
i. All members of the national Executive Committee
ii. Member Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority
