Decoded: Why Supreme Court wants oxygen policy revised amid Covid-19

LMO, or medical grade oxygen, is not usually a controlled product but because of the pandemic, the Centre assumed the powers to direct supply from all producers

Before the pandemic, the total demand for medical oxygen in the country was 700 tonne per day (tpd). Given the Covid crisis and the consequent requirement for oxygen, today Delhi alone is asking the Union government for 700 tpd. During the first wave of Covid-19 last year, the overall demand for liquid medical oxygen (LMO) in India had increased four times, to 2,800 tpd. But how is oxygen quota set and why does the Supreme Court want the government’s oxygen policy revised? Let’s find out.
 
Who decides on matters related to oxygen production and supply?
 
On March 29,