The State Government of Maharashtra has recently launched the “Maharashtra Mission Oxygen”. Under the mission, the daily production of the state is to be increased to 3,000 tonnes. The State Government has allocated Rs 200 crores to the mission. It will provide special incentives to the private players who are willing to being oxygen generation units.
What is the plan?
- A short-term goal of 2,300 metric tonnes per day is to be achieved in next six months. The cost of the mission has been estimated as RS 1,100 crores.
- The mission involves the participation of private companies as well.
- Under the mission, at least one new plant is to be established in each division.
- The mission will also waive the registration fee, stamp duty, electricity duty and GST.
- Around 150% GST is to be waived in backward Vidarbha and Marathwada and 100% in rest of the state.
- The State Government will also establish more than 290 Pressure Swing Absorption plants and Liquid Medical Oxygen plants with the help of private players.
Current Scenario
There are six major players in the state such as Inox Air Products, Linde India, Praxair, Air Liquid India Holdings, JSW Steel and Taiyo Nippon Sanso India. They produce most of the current day oxygen requirement which is 1,295 metric tonnes. The actual demand of oxygen in Maharashtra is 1,800 metric tonnes per day. However, it is predicted that the demand is to increase to 2,300 metric tonnes as the COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing in the state.