John Wilbert & Gracy Tripathy
Port Blair, September 21: Once again the petrol pump in Little Andaman Island, run by ANIDCO, is out of fuel, leaving the Islanders in deep trouble. Residents of Little Andaman informed Andaman Sheekha that yesterday the diesel stock was over and today the petrol tank is empty.
While talking to Andaman Sheekha, a senior officer at Little Andaman said that on 18 September, a cargo ship MV Prabhu was about to reach Little Andaman but because one crew member of the ship was tested COVID-19 positive the entire ship has been quarantined and hence the ship could not reach on time which caused the delay.
He informed that, the petrol pump ran out of both diesel and petrol and as per information another cargo ship will sail on 23rd September from Port Blair with fuel, which probably be reaching Little Andaman the next day. However, he clarified that for emergency use of Administration and for public service, some fuel has been kept in reserve.
When Andaman Sheekha further contacted Mr Ramesh Babu, a Panchayat Member, Little Andaman, he said that the Islanders are not getting sufficient fuel since last four days. He also alleged that this is not the first time when the petrol pump of ANIIDCO has gone dry, earlier also in many occasions people of Little Andaman faced similar problems. Public urged ANIIDCO to make advance planning for fuel transport to Little Andaman region so that in future general public do not face such crisis again in the Island.
