Bengaluru: With oxygen availability getting  scarce, the Union government  had instructed Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which has comprehensive database of industrial units, to identify the industries having spare nitrogen plants and explore the feasibility of converting of existing Nitrogen plants to produce oxygen. 

A statement from environment ministry said that about 30 industries have been identified, and efforts have begun to modify nitrogen plants for the production of medical oxygen. Some of these plants can be shifted to nearby hospitals for supplying oxygen and some plants, where it is not feasible to shift the plants, can produce oxygen on-site.

In the existing nitrogen plants, replacing Carbon Molecular Sieve (CMS) with Zeolite Molecular Sieve (ZMS) and few other changes such as installation of oxygen analyzer, change in control panel system, flow valves etc., oxygen for medical use can be produced. With the availability of ZMS, such modified plant can be set up in 4-5 days while installation of new oxygen plant may take minimum 3-4 weeks.

Indian Railways and air force have also pitched in to alleviate the miseries, with the railways running Oxygen Express, which supplies oxygen to all parts of the country. 

The air force too has pressed its giant aircraft to lift containers and supply them to all parts of the country.