The Delhi government had locked horns with the Centre over inadequate supply of oxygen when the second wave of coronavirus was at its peak in April and May earlier this year. The latest news doing rounds is that Delhi had exaggerated oxygen needs during that time.
The BJP has cited report of the Supreme Court oxygen audit team claiming that Delhi government sought oxygen four times the actual need. The latter has refuted the charges claiming that no such report has been signed by the Supreme Court audit panel.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said, “The report being shared by the BJP does not exist at all. They are lying. The members of the panel we spoke to are saying that they have not signed or approved any report. The matter is sub-judice and one should not play politics over issues that are in court.”
It is indeed an irony that many lives were lost due to inadequate availability of oxygen during the second coronavirus wave. Whether the non availability was due to lack of supply of oxygen or mismanagement in allocation or its appropriate use is still being fiercely debated. While it is important to uncover the truth, it is equally, perhaps more important, to plug the loopholes and thwart the recurrence of such situations in future.
