Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 03 January 2025
Residents of Car Nicobar continue to grapple with a severe petrol shortage, with fuel last made available to the public in November 2024. This ongoing crisis, which has plagued the island for years, remains unresolved despite repeated media coverage and appeals for intervention.
The sole petrol supplier on the island, EHL, has consistently failed to maintain a regular fuel supply. Although the reasons for these disruptions remain unclear, the situation has left residents in long queues whenever petrol is available, scrambling to secure enough to sustain their transportation needs.
The frustrations of the island’s residents are growing, with many calling for concrete action to address the issue. “This is not just an inconvenience—it disrupts daily life and affects our ability to move around for essential tasks,” said a local resident.
While other islands in the Nicobar group enjoy relatively stable fuel supplies, Car Nicobar stands as an exception. The island’s only petrol pump, operated by EHL, has struggled to meet demand, causing prolonged periods of scarcity.
Efforts to address the issue have been made. On October 24, 2024, Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray met with Mr. Harminder Singh, Director of Civil Supplies, at the Secretariat in Port Blair to discuss the critical fuel and LPG shortages affecting Car Nicobar’s tribal community. Representatives from the Tribal Council of Car Nicobar were also present, emphasizing the dire need for solutions.
During the meeting, Mr. Ray stressed the inadequacy of Car Nicobar’s single petrol pump and advocated for establishing additional fuel stations to ensure a consistent supply of petrol and other petroleum products.
Despite these discussions, no tangible progress has been made, and the residents of Car Nicobar remain in a state of uncertainty. With the new year underway, calls for urgent action are intensifying. “We need a permanent resolution to this crisis. The authorities must prioritize this issue before it worsens further,” another resident demanded.
The ongoing petrol crisis underscores the need for a sustainable fuel supply system in Car Nicobar. Until then, the island’s residents will continue to face disruptions in their daily lives.