NEW DELHI :
Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) has taken various measures to address the problems faced by petroleum, explosives, oxygen and industrial gas industries to ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygen to hospitals and other healthcare facilities during the 21-day nationwide lockdown.
PESO, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry instructions to all its offices to ensure grant of licences for storage and transport of medical oxygen urgently, according to official sources on Friday.
Advisory has been issued by PESO on March 25 to Principal Secretaries (Home) of all States, requesting them to allow uninterrupted transportation and manufacturing of medical oxygen and nitrous oxide in line with MHA order on the measures to be taken for containment of COVID-19 in the country.
Validity of licenses for transportation of oxygen and other gases which will expire on March 31 has been extended up to June 30.
Validity of licenses for storage, transportation, sale, use and manufacturing of explosives and fireworks which will expire on March 31, has been extended up to June 30. Fee for late renewal of licences will also not be charged.
Cylinders used for storage of compressed oxygen, CNG, LPG and other gases, which are due for statutory hydro testing on March 31, will be deemed to be due for testing on June 30. Pressure vessels used for storage and transportation of oxygen, LPG and other gases, which are due for statutory testing for safety relief valves and hydro testing from March 15 to June 30, will be deemed to be due for testing on June 30.
On Thursday, the DPIIT set up a control room to monitor in real-time the status of transportation and delivery of goods, manufacturing, delivery of essential commodities to the common man and the difficulties being faced by various stakeholders. The department has also issued instructions to the state authorities, ‘not to obstruct and call for the closure of food processing units,’ in view of the lockdown in the country.