Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 11 July 2024
The residents of Great Nicobar continue to face significant challenges in obtaining LPG cylinder refills, a basic necessity for daily cooking. The consumers of the revenue villages of Laxmi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, and Shastri Nagar received their last LPG refill almost 70+ days back. Since then, the villagers have experienced severe LPG shortages, leaving many households without access to cooking gas.
Most villagers are now relying on borrowed LPG cylinders from neighbours or friends. Last month, when CCS Ltd., the sole LPG distributor in Great Nicobar, issued new cylinders, the supply fell short, and the residents of these three villages were excluded from the distribution. The affected residents remain uncertain about when they will receive their next refill.
This issue is not isolated. The residents of Great Nicobar regularly encounter difficulties in securing LPG refills, highlighting a systemic problem in the supply chain. Despite advancements, the situation in 2024 reflects a troubling reality: the logistics and distribution mechanisms are failing to meet the basic needs of the island’s inhabitants.
Ideally, LPG refills should be delivered promptly to consumers’ doorsteps upon booking. However, in many parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the distribution is dictated by the distributor’s schedule rather than consumer demand. This misalignment causes significant inconvenience and hardship.
In remote locations like Great Nicobar, LPG cylinders are imported in limited quantities and distributed immediately, without adequate storage. This approach exacerbates the problem, leading to frequent shortages. A more sustainable solution would involve importing larger batches of LPG cylinders and maintaining a local storage for timely distribution as needed.
Moreover, the availability of cargo ships for transporting LPG cylinders is inconsistent, further complicating the supply chain. Regular and reliable transportation, along with adequate storage solutions, is crucial to resolving the recurring shortages.
The persistent scarcity of LPG cylinders in remote islands like Great Nicobar demands urgent attention. The local administration, in collaboration with LPG distributors and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), must develop and implement effective strategies to ensure a steady and sufficient supply of LPG to these isolated communities. Ensuring reliable access to such a fundamental resource is imperative for the well-being and daily functioning of the residents of Great Nicobar.