O2 Demand To Spike In Delhi, 6 States By April 30: Govt In SC

K’taka, Punjab To See Dip In Requirement

- Dhananjay Mahapatra

New Delhi: If medical oxygen demand is an indicator of the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Centre’s affidavit before the Supreme Court predicts a harder time for seven populous states — Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi and Chhattisgarh — where demand for oxygen is estimated to increase significantly by April 30.

Forecasting the requirement of medical oxygen by April 30 in its affidavit, the Union government said Maharashtra would require 2,000 tonnes (as against 1,500 tonnes on April 20), Gujarat 1,200 MT (1,000 MT), Uttar Pradesh 800 MT (400 MT), Madhya Pradesh 700 MT (445 MT), Delhi 445 MT (300 MT), Chhattisgarh 382 MT (215 MT) and Tamil Nadu 465 MT (200 MT). Forecast for oxygen requirement for Karnataka was 111 MT on April 30 as against 300 MT on April 20 and that for Punjab was 82 MT (126 MT).