The oxygen audit team appointed by the Supreme Court has blamed the Aam Aadmi Party government for seeking four times more medical oxygen than it actually used during the April 25- May 4 period when the second Covid-19 wave was at its peak.
The audit report stated that Delhi required approximately 300MT oxygen but the Kejriwal government raised this demand by about four times to 1,200MT.
The audit team informed the apex court that the supply of excess oxygen to the national capital is likely to have impacted supply to 12 states with high caseload since the supply needed for other states was diverted to Delhi.
The report stated that the difference in the oxygen usage data is due to “a poor understanding of demand calculation”.
“There was a gross discrepancy (about four times). The actual oxygen consumption claimed by the Delhi government (1,140MT) was about four times higher than the calculated consumption as per the formula based on bed capacity (289 MT),” the team cited the audit sub-group as saying in its report.
It further found that oxygen tankers could not be offloaded at several hospitals including LNJP and AIIMS since their storage tanks were already at 75 percent capacity.
It is also worthy to note that the Delhi government reported that consumption of oxygen between April 29 and May 10 in 183 hospitals was 1,140MT but according to hospital supplied information, the actual consumption was only 209 MT.
During the months of April-May, multiple Delhi hospitals had run out of oxygen supply with some facilities claiming critical Covid-19 patients had died due to a shortage oxygen supply. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at that time chose his petty politics over Delhi citizens and continue to trigger a war of words with the Centre government.
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sambit Patra also lashed out at CM Kejriwal for creating a fake scenario of oxygen deficit. He wrote, “The Truth is finally out…
Arvind Kejriwal inflated Oxygen need by 4X during Peak,says the Supreme Court-appointed panel. This could have affected 12 high caseload states. So, friends, Kejriwal was lying all the while..Indeed He’s #JhootaKejriwal”
The Truth is finally out…
Arvind Kejriwal inflated Oxygen need by 4X during Peak,says the Supreme Court appointed panel.
This could have affected 12 high caseload States
So friends Kejriwal was lying all the while..
Indeed He’s #JhootaKejriwal pic.twitter.com/DlQ0CvZNH8— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) June 25, 2021
