Admin not preventing NGOs, Pvt bodies from oxygen refilling, DC Srinagar

Srinagar, May 7: Terming the report on social media that administration is preventing NGOs, Private bodies and individuals from oxygen refilling ''misleading'', Deputy Commissioner (DC), Srinagar office said in fact the process is being streamlined to enable faster delivery to most needy patients.
The DC office said that a post is being shared with a claim that administration is preventing NGOs, private bodies and individuals from Oxygen refilling.
The claim is misleading and the Administration has in fact streamlined the process to enable faster delivery to most needy patients. It said all applications received on Thursday stand approved.
The office said other than Whatsapp Number 9971798596 & Covid War room Helpline No. 0194-2483650 here is email for facilitation of Oxygen refilling: [email protected].
Meanwhile, DC, Srinagar, Aijaz Asad in a tweet on Friday said “To provide fair & equal access to oxygen supply to the most needy patients, things have been streamlined. Scuttlebutt has it as if somebody is being prevented. Not at all. In fact, proper mechanism in place will ensure regular supply in a smooth manner”.
Earlier, Mr Asad, who is also chairman of District Disaster Management Authority Srinagar, issued an advisory to all medical oxygen manufacturing units in the district to stop refills of oxygen cylinders to NGOs, private societies.
He has directed all the units to provide supply to government hospitals. While as private persons, NGOs can get refills of medical oxygen only after prior approval of District Magistrate Srinagar.
The order issued by Mr Asad as chairman DDMA said whereas, Covid-19 has been declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization affecting several countries including India.
“Whereas, medical oxygen as a commodity has become very precious and judicious use of the medical oxygen has become need of the hour. Whereas, several reports of black marketing of medical oxygen have reached this office which is in contravention of proper management of medical oxygen during pandemic of Covid19.”
The order said “Now therefore, in view of the above and in the interest of better Healthcare of general public at large, I Mohammad Aijaz, Chairman DDMA Srinagar, in exercise of the powers vested in me under section 34 of the National Disaster Management Act 2005 and the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 do hereby declare that all oxygen manufacturing units within the jurisdiction of Srinagar shall supply oxygen refills only to the designated hospitals, clinics and will stop supply to any private society/NGO with immediate effect.”
“Supplies to private persons, societies, NGOs other than private hospitals shall be made only on prior approval of District Magistrate Srinagar,” the order said.