Mumbai :Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, during the virtual meeting with Prime Minister NarendraModi and five other state CMs on Friday, insisted on a comprehensive national policy by the Central government to prevent crowding for political events, protests and religious programmes amid the threat of a potential third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.He also sought additional stock of vaccine and pressed for adequate arrangement of oxygen upto 2000 metric tonnes in case the third wave hits Maharashtra. He also said that the Centre should take steps to reduce the prices of the monoclonal antibodies’ drugs.

Thackeray said controlling crowding at public places owing to political-religious programmes has become a challenge and a national policy to regulate crowding is the need of the hour. He said people are venturing out of their homes in large numbers not only in Maharashtra, but across the country. “Revenge tourism and revenge shopping are gaining momentum, as people are venturing out in large numbers. The crowding at the public places to attend political and religious functions has been alarming. The state governments should take steps to control the crowd, but a national policy on crowd management is necessary,” Thackeray said.

Thackeray’s demand is seen as his response to the Centre frequently flagging Maharashtra as one of the worst-affected states. Leaders of the ruling MVA coalition allege the BJP-ruled states are not transparent in revealing Covid case data, but they are not asked about it. The Assembly elections in five states and religious events like Kumbh Mela are being blamed for spike in Covid cases in some states.

Thackeray also pressed for the supply of 2000 metric tonnes of oxygen to Maharashtra from the neighbouring states if the third wave hit the state. “As per the projection, Maharashtra could need at least 4000 MT of oxygen during the third wave. We are augmenting our production capacity to 2000MT, the supply of the remaining stock from the steel plants in Bhilai, Jamnagar, Bellary would help in meeting the requirement. Centre should ensure that the additional requirement is met from the central pool of oxygen. Maharashtra has planned for the installation of the 530 PSA oxygen plant covering each of the districts and a plan is in place for the district wise management of the oxygen,” he said.