Fuel Crisis Returns to Car Nicobar Island, Residents Demand Permanent Solutions

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, May 17: Residents of Car Nicobar Island, once again, found themselves grappling with a fuel crisis, as reported previously by Andaman Sheekha Daily. Over the past two weeks, the residents have been experiencing a shortage of petrol and diesel, causing frustration among the residents.
This scarcity of fuel compounds the challenges faced by those living in remote and isolated Island, making life difficult for many in Car Nicobar Islands.
A resident of Car Nicobar expressed his concerns to Andaman Sheekha Daily, highlighting the increasing frustration caused by frequent fuel shortages. They emphasized that the remoteness and isolation of the islands already present significant hardships, and the ongoing fuel crisis further exacerbates their difficulties.
When contacted, an officer from Ellon Hinengo Limited (EHL) informed Andaman Sheekha Daily that a cargo vessel named Shakthi, carrying 10KL of petrol and 10KL of diesel, was scheduled to sail yesterday. The ship is currently in Hut Bay and is expected to reach Car Nicobar tomorrow.
The officer assured that with the vessel’s arrival, the fuel crisis would be resolved. However, the reality is that Car Nicobar currently has approximately 8,000 liters of petrol and over 2,000 liters of diesel. Unfortunately, one of the pump’s flow meters, connected to the fuel tank with more fuel, is undergoing repairs. He added that the issue has been reported to the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) because the responsibility for supply and repair of the pump in Car Nicobar lies with IOCL.
Despite regular reminders about the issue, IOCL is unable to address it due to the unavailability of ships caused by cyclonic weather conditions. Furthermore, there is only one technician from IOCL stationed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who, for some reason, is currently unavailable.
The officer stated that another technician from Kolkata is expected to arrive on May 22, after which repairs can be carried out, enabling the resumption of normal fuel distribution using both pumps.
In addition to the immediate concerns, the residents of Car Nicobar argue that temporary solutions will not suffice to address the recurring fuel crisis. They are demanding a more significant storage capacity for fuel on the Island, ensuring a buffer stock is always available to meet public needs.