<span style="color: #222222;">Amid increasing demand for medical oxygen in Maharashtra, State Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte has written to Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, asking to increase the present allocation of oxygen supply of the state by at least 200 metric tonnes.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In a letter, Mr Kunte has urged the Union Cabinet Secretary to pay personal attention to the immediate supply of oxygen to the state from nearby and convenient places, keeping in view the rapid rise in COVID -19 infection in 16 districts of the state.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said geographically close locations will reduce turnaround time of oxygen tankers, which are limited in number.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He added that it will also enhance the state's daily lifting and better demand management.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Chief Secretary further requested that allocation of oxygen to the state from Gujarat's Jamnagar can be enhanced from current 125 metric tonnes per day to 225 metric tonnes per day.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Similarly, he said, allocation from Bhilai may be increased to 230 metric tonnes from current 130 metric tonnes.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Kunte said, it is also learnt that Government of India is getting ISO Tankers from Singapore, Dubai and other locations abroad, besides oil companies and CONCOR to facilitate Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) transport.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He therefore, requested the centre to allocate at least 10 LMO tankers to Maharashtra to enable the state in lifting of GoI allocated LMO quota from Steel Plant at Angul in Odisha via RoRo.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, Maharashtra continues to face onslaught of a second wave of COVID pandemic with current active case load of 6,63,758, of which 78,884 cases admitted are on medical oxygen including 24,787 in ICU. </span><br />''  <br />