Staff Correspondent
Sri Vijayapuram, April 12: A major protest erupted at Dhanikhari Junction in South Andaman as local residents, Panchayat members, and elected PRI representatives staged a demonstration over the persistent LPG supply issue in the region. What began as a peaceful dharna soon escalated into a road blockade, bringing traffic movement to a complete halt on the busy route connecting Wandoor and other rural areas. The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray and South Andaman Zilla Parishad Adhyaksh Mr. Prakash Adhikari were also present during the protest.
Large of villagers from nearby area and panchayats gathered at the junction, raising slogans and demanding immediate resolution of the long-standing issue. Protesters alleged that the local distributor has failed to ensure proper and timely distribution, leading to an artificial shortage and widespread hardship.
After Iran-US war LPG Supply has been disrupted in many areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, South Andaman Zilla Parishad Adhyaksh Mr. Prakash Adhikari, who was present at the protest site, stated that the issue has persisted for several years despite repeated representations to authorities. He highlighted that although the demand in the region is around 1,000 cylinders, only about 200 are supplied, forcing residents to struggle for basic cooking fuel. He further alleged that LPG cylinders are often distributed at odd hours, including late at night, violating safety norms and making access difficult, especially for elderly residents and women. Many women expressed distress during protest, stating that they have been forced to return to traditional cooking methods due to the unavailability of gas cylinders for over two months.
Despite multiple petitions, meetings, and letters addressed to authorities including the Civil Supplies Department and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), no concrete action has been taken so far. Protesters demanded the presence of IOCL officials, better monitoring, transparent distribution schedules, and even the creation of a separate distributor cluster to meet growing demand.
Officials from the administration reached the site and assured that a detailed inquiry would be conducted within a few days. Assurance was also given that a coordination meeting will be held at 16 April 2026 in this regard. Following this assurance, the protesters agreed to temporarily ease the blockaden.
