TheMaharashtragovernment has estimated that the requirement of liquid medical Oxygen could go up to 2,300 metric tonnes (MT) a day in future and is keen to offer incentives for more units in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
This has been indicated in the State Economic Survey released on Thursday on the eve of Fridays Maharashtra budget. Currently, the state registered a daily production of 1,300 MT of liquid oxygen per day, as against the requirement of 1,800 MT if the Covid cases were to rise, stated the report.
The report stated that Maharashtra has planned for 114 liquid medical oxygen manufacturing units in the six revenue divisions at a proposed of Rs1,870 crore and EMPLOYMENT of 2,931.
Consumption of medical oxygen in Maharashtra had reached the full production capacity of 1,250 MT last year when the active Covid cases in the state had soared over 6 lakh. At least 10% of them, an estimated 60,000-65,000, were requiring oxygen. This was highest for any state.
Maharashtra, during that crisis, had to draw 50 MT of oxygen each fromChhattisgarhandGujaratand 100 tonnes from theRelianceplant inJamnagar. Maharashtra was among the 12 high-burden states for essential medical oxygen supply. Over 17,000 MT of oxygen were then directed in three batches from states with surplus stock.