Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 16 May 2021
Campbell Bay is currently witnessing a shortage of essential commodities due to non-availability of cargo ships to Great Nicobar. Onions, potatoes and tomatoes have vanished from the market. The availability of rice in the open market is scarce. Pulses have vanished from the shelves of most grocers.
Eggs have become a luxury commodity at Campbell Bay. Sugar is not available in the open market easily and very limited stock of other commodities are available.
Nicobar Times spoke to some of the grocery shop owners who informed us that there was no cargo ship for transportation of commodities to the Island, hence there is huge shortage of almost all essential commodities.
All kinds of cooking oil is in short supply and may only last for a few more days. The grocers also informed Nicobar Times that M.V Chuglam is due to sail for Campbell Bay from Port Blair on 17th of May with all essential cargo, but the ship will call on multiple ports before reaching Campbell Bay by the end of the month or start of next month.
The available essential commodities at Campbell Bay may not last beyond a week and the residents will suffer for more than a week before the commodities can be purchased off the shelves in grocery stores.
Further, the grocers and vegetable shop owners also explained to Nicobar Times that the commodities which are shipped by M.V Chuglam does not reach Campbell Bay safely and they often get damaged. The vegetable shop owners informed us that 50% of their perishable cargo gets damaged during transportation because the ship usually takes more than 10 days to reach Campbell Bay.
The shortage of the commodities in Campbell Bay is not uncommon and a permanent solution is needed so that the residents living and serving in the remotest parts of the Islands are not deprived of the most basic of commodities required for human sustenance.