BJP State Secretary K. Paramasivam has raised concerns over the prolonged shortage of LPG cylinders in Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar, and urged the authorities to ensure regular supplies to residents of the remote island.
Speaking on the issue, Paramasivam said the last LPG consignment had reportedly reached Campbell Bay on April 24, after which no regular supply had been received. He said around 240 cylinders had subsequently been transported by a Navy vessel, with another consignment of approximately 240 cylinders expected to be sent, but maintained that the quantity was insufficient to meet local requirements.
According to Paramasivam, Campbell Bay requires around 3,000 cylinders to adequately address the shortage. He attributed the disruption primarily to transportation difficulties, noting that vessels serving the area, including Monostar and Shakti, were undergoing dry-dock and survey-related work.
Paramasivam said advance planning could have helped avoid the situation. He suggested that authorities and the concerned shipping agencies should coordinate in advance whenever vessels are scheduled for dry-dock, allowing larger quantities of essential commodities such as LPG to be transported before the disruption.
He also referred to a protest reportedly held by Campbell Bay residents over the shortage. He said residents in remote areas should not be left without essential supplies and stressed the need for greater attention to the southernmost inhabited parts of the islands.
Paramasivam said he had met Civil Supplies Secretary Praveen Ranjan Jha three times regarding the issue and had also met the Indian Oil Corporation terminal manager. He said he requested that the maximum possible number of LPG cylinders be transported on the next available vessels.
He further suggested that, if immediate funds were a constraint for the concerned agency, IOC could consider supplying cylinders to CCS on a credit basis to prevent further delays. He said the transportation of LPG to Campbell Bay could take seven to ten days, making advance stocking essential.
Paramasivam also raised concerns over an alleged shortage of PDS rice in the area and referred to earlier disruptions in the availability of petrol and diesel. He said ensuring uninterrupted access to essential commodities should remain a priority for the administration in remote island communities.