Oxygen consumption on rise, cannot provide oxygen to other states: CM writes to PM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the oxygen consumption in the state is increasing and therefore oxygen cannot be provided to other states. The Chief Minister has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarifying this. In the letter, the Chief Minister asked for permission to use all the 219 tonnes produced in Kerala.

Of the 450 tonnes in reserve, only 86 tonnes remain. The letter requested that this oxygen be allowed to be used for the needs of the state.

The daily oxygen production capacity of the state is 219 tons. Earlier, Kerala had provided oxygen to neighboring states. However, the Chief Minister has explained in the letter that Kerala is not in a position to provide oxygen to the neighboring states due to depletion of reserves. Most of the districts in the state are facing oxygen shortage. Currently, the number of Covid patients in the state is around four lakh. In the letter, the Chief Minister explains that it will increase to six lakhs by May 15.

The state has collected 450 tonnes of oxygen without relying on the central pool. The Chief Minister also clarified that the oxygen in the reserve has been given to Tamil Nadu till date. The state had given 40 metric tonnes per day to Tamil Nadu. The letter points out that there is a huge increase in the number of patients who need to use liquid oxygen.