John Wilbert &Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Dec 27: The Shaheed Dweep is situated very close to Port Blair and is considered as a Tourism Hotspot. The Andaman and Nicobar Administration always makes tall claims about promoting tourism in International level but often fails to provide basic amenities to the Tourist Hot-Spot Islands, which ultimately leaves Tourism stakeholders in a difficult position.
December is considered to be the busiest month for Tourism but today many tourist cab drivers of Shaheed Dweep found the lone fuel outlet of the Island has been kept closed. Distressed tourist cab drivers started making calls here and there to find out the reason behind such a move and later they came to know that the fuel outlet of Shaheed Dweep has gone almost dry.
Such closure of the fuel outlet has not only caused problems for cab drivers but also disturbed schedules of many tourists.
When contacted ANIIDCO sources told Andaman Sheekha that due to high waves fuel could not be sent to Shaheed Dweep, which triggered fuel crisis in the Island.
A tour operator told Andaman Sheekha that if fuel does not reach Shaheed Dweep in one or two days the situation will worsen further. Presently when all hotels are full, many vehicles are without fuel now, causing problems to tourists. Last month there was a power crisis in Shaheed Dweep during which most of the hotels had to operate DG sets for more than 10 hours a day, which needed a lot of fuel. “The Administration must plan to stock fuel for atleast two weeks at Shaheed Dweep all the time, to avoid such a crisis,” he added.
The Pradhan of Shaheed Dweep, Mrs. Pinki Das has reportedly taken up this matter with district administration and got assurances that soon a boat with fuel will be sent for Shaheed Dweep.
“When all hotels are full, lots of local youths are unable to operate their tourist vehicles. This will hit the local economy of Shaheed Dweep hard,” claimed Mr. Kajol Das, the Mondal President of BJP in Shaheed Dweep.
When contacted a senior officer of ANIIDCO told Andaman Sheekha Daily that already 15 KL of petrol and 5KL of diesel have been loaded in a boat by IOCL but due to unfavourable weather conditions the boat could not sail. He said that ANIIDCO is hoping that tomorrow the boat will reach Shaheed Dweep and once the boat reaches Shaheed Dweep the fuel supply will resume immediately. However, he clarified that at present 2.4 KL petrol and 7.2 KL of diesel is available at Shaheed Dweep.
