Center directs States and UTs to ensure free inter-state movement of oxygen-carrying vehicles

The Center has directed States and Union Territories to ensure that there should be no restriction imposed on the movement of Medical Oxygen between the States and transport authorities shall be instructed to allow free inter-state movement of oxygen-carrying vehicles. 

Union Home Secretary and Chairman of National Executive Committee Ajay Kumar Bhalla has written a letter to Secretaries of Ministries and all the Chief Secretaries and Administrators of States and Union Territories in this regard. 

Mr Bhalla also directed to ensure that no authority shall attach the oxygen-carrying vehicles passing through the district or areas for making supplies specific



to any particular district or areas. It said, there shall be free movement of oxygen carrying vehicles into the city, without any restriction of timing. Earlier, the Center had prohibited the supply of Oxygen for industrial purposes by manufacturers and suppliers from today till further orders. 

However, this prohibition will not apply to the supply of oxygen for nine industries. These are Ampoules and Vials, Pharmaceutical, Petroleum refineries, Steel plants, Nuclear energy facilities, Oxygen cylinder manufacturers, Wastewater treatment plants, Food and water purification and Process industries which require uninterrupted operation of furnaces.