Bombay High Court asks MOIL to use CSR to set up Oxygen Plants For Hospitals of Nagpur

It has reported that with an aim of oxygen supply in Nagpur region, the Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) has directed the Manganese Ore India Ltd, a Public Sector Undertaking, to utilize its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for setting up oxygen generation, storage and distribution plants at he hospitals indicated by the District Collector, Nagpur.

“We are also of the opinion that for same purpose of augmenting oxygen production capacity,we need to take help of another Public Sector giant in Nagpur, the Manganese Ore India Ltd. and so we direct the Chairman and Managing Director Manganese Ore India Limited, Nagpur to utilise it’s “Corporate Social Responsibility Fund” for setting up oxygen generation, storage and distribution plants at the hospitals indicated to him by the District Collector, Nagpur in consultation with Commissioner, NMC. We direct the District Collector, Nagpur to send communication in this regard immediately to C.M.D., MOIL, Nagpur with a list of hospitals, like Nagpur Nagarik Rugnalaya and the like for the purpose of setting up this oxygen generation, storage and distribution plants by utilizing “Corporate Social Responsibility Fund” of MOIL, Nagpur”, a division bench comprising Justices Sunil Shukre and Avinash Gharote ordered.

During the hearing, Vibha Dutta, the Director, AIIMS, Nagpur pointed out the acute shortage of doctors at the hospital. She submitted that nearly 220 beds were available, but they cannot be used for want of sufficient oxygen supply and availability of doctors. She added that they were unable to start 30 ICU beds with ventilators, for the same reason. The intervenors pointed out that of the 647 MBBS doctors who signed up for their mandatory one year, 347 are or from Nagpur.

We also find that the need of AIIMS, Nagpur can be fulfilled if the DMER of Maharashtra considers allocating bond services of MBBS graduates in pursuance of its notice dated 16.4.2021 in sufficient numbers to AIIMS, Nagpur. We direct the DMER to allocate bond service of MBBS graduates in adequate number ranging from 25 to 40 doctors. The Court also allowed Nagpur Medical College to earmark 20% of its oxygen beds as contingency beds to meet extreme emergency situations.