‘Need oxygen supply from western States’
Govt. cites Cyclone Yaas as purpose
The State authorities on Monday knowledgeable the Madras High Court that it had sought the pressing supply of oxygen from western States, for the reason that allocation of 146 tonnes to Tamil Nadu from the japanese hall (primarily Odisha) might get affected by Cyclone Yaas.
The court docket was informed that Maharashtra had agreed to supply 60 tonnes of oxygen a day for 12 days, starting Monday.
Appearing earlier than Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, Advocate-General R. Shunmugasundaram mentioned the Centre had elevated the allocation of oxygen for Tamil Nadu beneath the National Oxygen Plan, from 519 to 650 tonnes, with impact from Tuesday. Of this, it had been said that 146 tonnes could be provided from the japanese hall.
However, since that supply may get disrupted due to the cyclone, the State had insisted on guaranteeing supply from the western corridors, and Maharashtra had readily agreed to supply it, he mentioned. After recording his submission, the court docket mentioned happily, there was no clamouring for oxygen in Tamil Nadu or Puducherry, at current, although the State authorities feared disruption in future.
Alternative plan
“It is hoped that the Centre has an alternative plan to at least ensure the supply of 650 tonnes of oxygen to the State, as allocated. Learned Additional Solicitor General R. Sankaranarayanan has assured the court that the possible disruption due to Yaas has been taken into consideration by the Centre, and alternative arrangements may be indicated,” the judges noticed of their interim order.
The interim order was handed on a suo motu public curiosity litigation petition taken up by the court docket to observe the battle in opposition to COVID-19.