Oxygen manufacturers, transporters and ministry officials conducted an online meeting recently in which periodic counselling, priority vaccination and Covid-19 insurance, etc. were also sought for the drivers
Oxygen tanker drivers have been given training on transporting them
To provide uninterrupted passage to tankers and containers carrying Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO), transporters and tanker drivers have been given training and several concessions, including toll waivers. At an online joint meeting of oxygen manufacturers, transporters and ministry officials on Saturday, it was reiterated that such tankers be declared emergency vehicles at par with fire brigade and police vehicles.
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Oxygen tankers loaded on a train wagon arrive from Visakhapatnam via the special Oxygen Express, in Nashik district. File pic/PTI
Instructions have also been given by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to all its officials and other stakeholders to assist government and private efforts to fight the pandemic and help them in a pro-active manner.
Huge demand for LMO
“The outbreak of Covid-19 has created a huge demand for Liquid Medical Oxygen across the country. During the ongoing crisis, the timely delivery of LMO to hospitals and medical centres is of paramount importance to save lives of patients critically affected by Covid-19. Exemption of payment of user fee at the toll plazas will ensure faster movement of medical oxygen on the National Highways," transporter Bal Malkit Singh, chairman, core committee and former president of the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) said in the meeting. He attended it on behalf of tanker transporters.
“The meeting was important because even oxygen manufacturers (Linde, Inox, UPL and others), transporters and other stakeholders (Indian Chemical Council (ICC), Road Safety Council, IIC) were part of this discussion. Sureshkumar Nair, joint secretary at union ministry of commerce and industry also attended it,” added Singh later.
Think of the drivers
“We raised a number of issues during the meeting, including the fact that there is a need to address the fear factor among the drivers by periodic counselling, priority vaccination of drivers and their recognition as frontline warriors, Covid-19 insurance, financial help for the tanker transporters etc,” he said.
“The important ground realities include giving proper rest for drivers to deal with fatigue due to the current scenario, improving wayside amenities, availability of food and water, opening of dhabas, workshops, tyre shops and spare parts shops en route. It is also important for timely provision of food and water for oxygen tanker drivers on RO-RO (tankers on Rail and Air) and timely payment, rewards and incentives to keep them motivated,” Singh said. He also said there should be financial help to the transporters engaged in the oxygen supply chain by Principals, if required.
Government officials took note of the concerns at the meeting and extended support for hazardous goods training and for providing only trained drivers for oxygen tankers, so that there is uninterrupted and optimal usage of oxygen carrying.
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