Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Union Ministry of Home Affair (MHA) banned the use of liquid oxygen for any non-medical purpose to ensure that there is no lack of oxygen in the Covid-19 hospitals across the country. He also directed the manufacturing units to maximise the production and make it available to the government for medical purpose only.
According to the official report, the Ministry in an order stated that the National Executive Committee (NEC), under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, has taken certain decisions to ensure the uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen across the country.
It further stated that it has been considered necessary to restrict industrial usage of oxygen for ensuring availability of adequate and uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen across the country for the management of Covid-19 patients and necessary order in this regard was issued on 22.04.2021 to restrict the use of industrial oxygen.
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The order further added that in the exercise of powers conferred under section 10(2)(I) and section 65 of the DM Act, the undersigned hereby directs the state/Union Territory governments and state/Union Territory Authorities to ensure that use of liquid oxygen is not allowed for any non-medical purpose and that all manufacturing units may maximise their production of liquid oxygen, and make it available to the government for use for medical purposes only, with immediate effect and until further orders.
The stocks of liquid oxygen should also be made available to the government for use for medical purpose and no exception is allowed. The ministry had also issued a directive to states and Union Territories asking them to make sure there are no restrictions in the supply of medical oxygen.
The Minister further elaborated the necessity of the availability of an adequate and uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen which is termed as the pre-requisite for managing moderate and severe cases of Covid-19. With the increasing number of cases, the medical oxygen supply will need to increase to keep pace with the requirements of the states and Union Territories.
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