IIT Delhi professor suggests setting up of oxygen plants, HC asks Delhi govt to consider

The high court appreciated the recommendations made by the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi’s Professor Sudhir Dhir and said it deals with practically all aspects relating to oxygen management during the COVID-19 crisis.

Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi government to consider it as paramount the suggestions and proposal of an IIT Delhi's professor on setting up oxygen manufacturing plants in the national capital at various locations and hospitals to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
“We are dealing with a once-in-a-century pandemic and setting up of oxygen manufacturing plant would go a long way. You should consider it as paramount. That will take care of so much things-storage, movement, evaporation. Just consider," said the high court to the Delhi government.

While welcoming the suggestions given by the professor, a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh asked the Delhi government to file a chart within four weeks indicating the timeline within which several steps, which are needed to be undertaken, are planned to be implemented.

“We are dealing with a once-in-a-century pandemic….To go by historical evidence, the last pandemic was in 1920,” it said.

The high court appreciated the recommendations made by the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi’s Professor Sudhir Dhir and said it deals with practically all aspects relating to oxygen management during the COVID-19 crisis and also regarding the expected third wave of the virus.

As per the recommendations are given by the IIT Delhi's professor, the government and other hospitals in the national capital shall undertake steps to augment the production, storage and transportation facility of medical oxygen in the city.

The professor further said apart from decentralised plants, the city can have oxygen generation units that can be set up by the Delhi government.

The bench said, “Such plants would have to be set up regardless of whether there is any return. There is a return, the return in such times of crisis is that you will not face loss of lives for lack of resources. So there is a return but it may not be as tangible as you would expect.”

Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi government, said they will look into the recommendations and take further steps.

In appreciation of the immense work being done by the professor, the court asked the Delhi government to offer an amount of Rs one lakh to Dhir as a token and made clear it does not represent remuneration for his work.

The counsel for the Delhi government and other parties also agreed on this after which the court said the amount shall be handed over to him.

Mr Dhir said the appreciation of his work was enough and he does not require it monetarily.

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