‘It’s Better To Be Over Prepared’: Madras HC Asks Centre To Take Steps For Adequate Oxygen To TN

Chennai: Expressing concern with regard a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Madras High Court on Monday said the Centre must do something about the oxygen requirement of Tamil Nadu since it might increase to over 700 tonnes a day if the number of positive cases do not reduce in the days to come.

The High Court said it is better for Centre and Tamil Nadu Government to be over prepared than be under prepared since the experts expect a third wave of Covid-19 too.

The High Court said the Centre should take immediate measures to augment supply of oxygen, drugs and vaccines to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry till a National Task Force set up by the Supreme Court commences its work.

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Stating it does not consider itself an expert, the High Court further said the objective behind the suo motu case is only to monitor the measures being taken by the stakeholders.

The Supreme Court had earlier put in place a 12-member National Task Force, including top experts and doctors from across the country, “to facilitate a public health response to the pandemic based on scientific and specialised domain knowledge”.

The National Task Force would also undertake an oxygen audit for “formulating a methodology for the scientific allocation of oxygen to states and UTs (Union Territories)”.