PM Modi chairs high-level meeting on oxygen supply

In view of an acute shortage of medical-grade oxygen in several parts of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting on the oxygen supply and its availability, He directed officials to take urgent steps to increase production, speed up distribution and use innovative methods to provide oxygen support to health facilities.

During the meeting, he spoke about the need to fix responsibility with the local administration in cases of obstruction and also asked the states to act strictly against hoarders.

The meeting was attended by the cabinet secretary, principal secretary to PM, home secretary, health secretary and officials from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Road Transport, Pharmaceuticals, and Niti Aayog.

The officials informed the prime minister that an elaborate exercise is being done in coordination with the states to identify their demand for oxygen and ensure adequate supply accordingly.