Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 19 October 2024
The Pradhans of all three Panchayats in Great Nicobar have issued a stern warning to authorities, threatening to launch peaceful protests if no action is taken to resolve the ongoing shortage of LPG cylinders by the end of the week. The scarcity has left many residents of the island without a single LPG refill in the past four months, severely impacting their ability to cook food and carry out daily activities.
Great Nicobar, the southernmost island of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, frequently faces challenges in obtaining essential supplies due to logistical difficulties in transporting goods from Port Blair. The current shortage of LPG has worsened, leaving 1500+ consumers (out of the 2600 Total Consumers) without access to a basic necessity.
In a joint letter submitted to the Assistant Commissioner, the Pradhans of Campbell Bay Panchayat, Govind Nagar Panchayat, and Laxmi Nagar Panchayat expressed their deep concerns. They have demanded immediate action to ensure the availability of adequate LPG supplies. The letter also serves as a final ultimatum, warning that if the situation is not addressed by end of this week, they will lead a peaceful protest in front of the store operated by CCS Ltd., the local LPG distributor, on 21st October.
The Pradhans’ decision reflects the mounting frustration of residents, who have been left in a precarious position due to the unavailability of cooking gas. CCS Ltd., responsible for distributing LPG on the island, has been criticised for failing to fulfill its obligations, further exacerbating the crisis.
As the deadline approaches, the island awaits a response from the authorities, who are expected to intervene before the situation escalates. The Pradhans have made it clear that they will not hesitate to act on behalf of their communities if the supply issues persist.