[Max Hospitals oxygen shortage] Why is the Centre not waking up to the reality? Highlights of the urgent hearing before the Delhi High Court

In an urgent hearing held at around 8:00 pm on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court pulled up the Central government for failing to address the shortage of oxygen in hospitals amid the COVID-19 crisis..The Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli made a number of remarks during the hearing of the petition filed by Max Hospitals seeking urgent help regarding the oxygen shortage it was facing in six of its hospitals in the capital..Below are the observations made by the Court.."Supply of oxygen from established sources like Inox is not able to meet the demand. The responsibility falls on the Centre to ensure supply." [Court on the submission of oxygen supplier Inox that it was producing oxygen to full capacity].."We direct Centre to protect the right to life of citizens who are seriously ill and require medical oxygen and to supply the same by whatever means it is required."."If necessary, Centre should divert entire supply from industries, particularly steel and petroleum. Transportation from place of production to place of use is also a challenge.".Why is the government not waking up to the reality?Delhi High Court."Central government should consider ways and means of transporting oxygen from plants by either creating a dedicated corridor so that the supply lines are not affected or airlifting the same."."It's no solace to anybody that you are supplying 400 MT...Centre has all the power and resources at their command..Even Tata is supplying. Mr [Ratan] Tata will be willing to help. Everyone must be willing to help at this moment..."."What have to done about it? While a day has gone...why is it not dawning on your officers?...Why this hesitancy? Is running steel plant so important?" [Court on minimising production of oxygen at Steel, Petroleum industries]."How is this that the government is so oblivious to the ground reality? We can't have people die...yesterday we were told you were trying to import (oxygen). What happened to that?" [Court, while referring to yesterday's order by which it had directed the Centre to implement the ban on usage of oxygen by the industrial sector forthwith]."This is the height of greed if we can say that. There is no humanity left or what?" [Court on hearing that others were not diverting oxygen]..Hell will break lose (if oxygen is not supplied).Delhi High Court."[For] 1-2 weeks your industries can wait. You've not even thought in that direction. Human lives are not that important for the State it means. We are shocked and dismayed that government doesn't seem to be mindful to the extremely urgent need of medical oxygen."."We direct Centre to provide safe passage...so that such supplies are not obstructed for any reason whatsoever." [Court on hearing that Inox was providing Max Hospital, Patparganj with 2,000 cubic MT of oxygen].."We can't postpone it to tomorrow. We are willing to give 30 mins. Your Secretaries can join (in 30 minutes)." [Court after ASG asked that the order be passed tomorrow].."We are saying that you are not exploring other alternatives. We are not saying that you are being unfair."."We were told all this earlier. Fact of the matter is that there is shortage. It is there for us to see. We cannot shut our eyes to this." [Court in reaction to Additional Secretary's submission on how Centre was allocating oxygen to states].."We cannot see people dying because oxygen is not there.".We want you to undertake maximum procurement from all sources. Beg, borrow, steal, whatever, you have to provide.Delhi High Court."You may have only found out from industries if they can provide excess oxygen they produce. You have to procure every metric tonne that is required for patients. It is your responsibility, you have to go a step further."."We cannot afford to lose lives. That is the difference in approach in our minds and your mind."."Obstructions in other states are happening. It falls on you [Centre] to ensure that oxygen reaches Delhi borders."."Now that it has been stated that 480 MT has been allocated, we will take your assurance that it will be supplied with protection."