CM Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi exaggerated the national capital's oxygen needs by four times when the second COVID-19 wave was at its peak during April 25-May 10, found an audit team constituted by the Supreme Court. #arvindkejriwal
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The panel's report said, "The oxygen consumption claimed by the Delhi (1,140MT) was four times higher than the calculated consumption as per the formula based on bed capacity (289MT)." The excess supply to Delhi could have caused a crisis of oxygen supply to 12 other states.
To recall, on May 7—after Kejriwal raised alarm over oxygen shortage—Justice DY Chandrachud-led SC bench had directed the Centre to ensure supply of 700MT even though Solicitor General Tushar Mehta presented that experts' calculation pegged Delhi's requirement at 415MT.
On the other hand, Mumbai managed with a supply of 275MT of oxygen even during its peak caseload season, when the number of active cases crossed 92,000. Delhi, meanwhile, demanded 900MT of oxygen when the peak caseload was 95,000 patients on May 3.
In its interim report to the SC, the team led by AIIMS chief, said it had distributed a document to 260 hospitals in Delhi to calculate accurate requirement based on actual consumption, requirement as per the Delhi govt's formula, and requirement based on the Centre's formula.
The panel also clarified that while the Delhi Government had claimed that its oxygen requirement formula was based on the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) guidelines, no such guidelines have been presented to it for scrutiny.
The panel particularly noted that four Delhi-based hospitals—Singhal Hospital, Aruna Asaf Ali Government Hospital, ESIC Model Hospital, and Liferays Hospital—had few beds but claimed extremely high oxygen consumption.
In its interim report to the SC, the team led by AIIMS chief, said it had distributed a document to 260 hospitals in Delhi to calculate oxygen requirement based on actual consumption, requirement as per the Delhi govt's formula, and requirement based on the Centre's formula.
The panel also clarified that while the Delhi Government had claimed that its oxygen requirement formula was based on the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) guidelines, no such guidelines have been presented to it for scrutiny.
The panel particularly noted that four Delhi-based hospitals—Singhal Hospital, Aruna Asaf Ali Government Hospital, ESIC Model Hospital, and Liferays Hospital—had few beds but claimed extremely high oxygen consumption.
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