 "States should keep medical oxygen demand 'under control', says Piyush Goyal; Congress slams remarks")
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday advised state governments to keep the demand for medical oxygen ‘under control’, amid reports of shortages of oxygen in parts of the country that have been hit hard by the second wave of coronavirus. Goyal was quoted by ANI as saying, “State governments should keep demand (for medical oxygen) under control. Demand-side management is as important as supply-side management. Containing COVID spread is the responsibility of state governments & they should fulfil this responsibility.” The Union minister further said, “If cases continue to rise unlimitedly, then it will pose a major challenge for the healthcare infrastructure of the country. We are with the state governments but they need to manage the demand and take concrete steps to contain COVID-19 spread.” He also said that wastage of oxygen should be avoided.
पेशेंट को जितना जरूरत है उतना ही ऑक्सीजन लगाना चाहिए। कई जगह से वेस्टेज के साथ ही, पेशेंट को जरूरत ना होते हुए भी ऑक्सीजन लगाने की खबर आ रही है
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 18, 2021
The patient should use as much oxygen as they need. In many places there is news that oxygen is being given even when it is not needed. pic.twitter.com/WVKr45z8tB
In response, Congress leader Srivatsa tweeted —
Einstein Goyal, your oxygen supply must first be made limited. Then we will see how you do demand side management.
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) April 18, 2021
In recent weeks, supply of oxygen has become a major point of concern, with Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal requesting the Centre to plug the demand-supply gap. FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES ON CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK HERE In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Thackeray had said that medical oxygen requirement in the state is projected to reach 2,000 metric tonnes per day by April-end from the present consumption of 1,200 MT per day. In response, Goyal had slammed Thackeray, saying that Maharashtra has so far received the highest quantity of oxygen in India and the Centre is in regular touch with state governments to assess their needs. “Maharashtra is suffering from an inept and corrupt government and the Centre is doing its best for the people. People of Maharashtra are following ‘Majha Kutumb, Majhi Javabadari’ (my family, my responsibility) dutifully. It is time the CM (chief minister) also follows his duties in the spirit of ‘Majha Rajya, Majhi Javabadari’ (my state, my responsibility),” he had remarked. India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases crossed 1.50 crore with a record single-day rise of 2,73,810 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases surpassed the 19-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The total tally of COVID-19 cases mounted to 1,50,61,919 and the death toll increased to 1,78,769 with a record 1,619 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. With inputs from PTI
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