John Wilbert & Savita Kumari
Port Blair, Feb 18: A cargo ship MV Shakti II today reached Hutbay with around 3500 LPG cylinders, out of which it was conveyed that only 1000 Cylinders will be offloaded for Little Andaman Island and rest LPG cylinders will be sent to other Islands of Nicobar District.
On information some villagers reached Hutbay Jetty and staged protest demanding more LPG Cylinders for Little Andaman Island because since last nearly four months the Island has been witnessing severe shortage of LPG Cylinders. Angry villagers shouted slogans and demanded to offload all LPG Cylinders at Hutbay jetty for Little Andaman Island.
According to villagers of Little Andaman, when the matter was taken up with the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar District, the Deputy Commissioner reportedly ordered to offload all 2750 LPG Cylinders at Little Andaman Island. Later another 700 LPG Cylinders kept inside the vessel were also offloaded at Hutbay jetty for residents of Little Andaman.
As per sources 100 drums of petrol being carried for other Islands were also offloaded at Hutbay and now the cargo ship will reportedly return to Port Blair from Hutbay.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha over phone, Mr. Vasudevan Nair, former Zilla Parishad member of Little Andaman said that villagers of Little Andaman have expressed heartfelt gratitude towards the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar District for his sympathetic decision for the benefit of the people of Little Andaman, who have been suffering heavily since last nearly four months.
