States fail to lift oxygen as Odisha ramps up supply

Five plants in Odisha are working in two shifts to augment oxygen production.

Ever since Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik spoke to the PM and chief ministers of Delhi and Maharashtra on Thursday, the state has supplied 300 t of oxygen to four states, Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The offtake by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is about 40 tons each, rest of the oxygen has gone to Delhi and Maharashtra.


“Issue is not production but lifting of oxygen is the real issue. For instance, in the case of Delhi we are observing that despite our intention to give more, transportation is becoming a problem,” a state government official told ET. “The containers are not coming regularly. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are regular in lifting the oxygen.”

Telangana and Andhra Pradesh share their border with Odisha; this might be the reason for quick transportation.

The state has also got a requisition through the central government to provide oxygen to Bihar and it may start in coming one or two days.

Till about a week ago, Odisha was producing 325 tons per day. With increasing demand the state has increased the production up to 375 tons per day.

“Currently there are five plants working in two shifts to produce oxygen and we can increase the production at a given notice period,” said the official. Some of these plants can work in three shifts.We can easily augment production up to 500 tons and even further when required.”