Dr. Dinesh
Andaman & Nicobar Islands are approximately 1300 kms away from mainland. Goods reach Andaman by cargo ship from Chennai/Kolkata. The day International flights were banned from flying and thereafter, domestic airlines was closed by the government, people started panic buying and started hoarding rice, dhall, salt, pickle, biscuits etc.
Residents of the islands have the experience of bad days during early 1980’s when salt, matchbox was not available for about few days. Matchboxes was sold at Rs 15/- those days due to delay in plying of ships and in 90’s when there was acute shortage of rice in Car Nicobar Island and had to be airlifted by defense aircraft.
Since flights & ships are the only mode of transportation from mainland India, there was definitely a panic among the islanders. People started panic buying essential commodities & panic buying of petrol etc. Most of the small grocery shop ran out of stock within a couple of days after the lockdown was announced by the Prime Minister, though Andaman Chamber of Commerce & Industry came out with total stock available of essential commodities in metric tons.
People who had smart phones with WhatsApp enabled news services and who listened to the local Radio news bulletin had a sigh of relief, but rumors spread like wild fire among the migrant workers who don’t have smart phones and they started hoarding items with all the little savings they had.
Since the lockdown, few government officials have been asked to work from home. Taking advantage of the situation few grocery shops/vegetable vendors/fish vendors had a gala time selling at exorbitant rates like potato @ Rs50/- per kg, onion @Rs60/-, Tomato @Rs100/- per kg, eggs in whole sale market is Rs 150/- for 30 eggs, but were sold at Rs 250/-. LPG cylinders was given at Rs 790/- two days back and yesterday people were charged Rs 900/- per cylinder. Some had complained that shopkeepers cheated on weights too, legal metrology department should look into the matter. General public had no option, because the administration had ordered complete lockdown including groceries/bakery shops/vegetable shops/private petrol bunks etc in true spirits. Only ANIIDCO petrol bunk was opened and petrol and diesel was issued to government staffs on duty & few businessmen who were dealing with essential commodities. After the Hon’ble High Court notice, private petrol bunks were opened and people made a beeline as the news spread.
On the contrary, cost of vegetables are cheaper in Middle Andaman like Brinjal @Rs 20/-, Bindi@Rs30/- per kg. In conversation over phone with an Engineer in Betapur, he said the demand is less, as most of them grow vegetables in their backyard. Petrol bunks are opened in Rangat, but it is a total waste to go from Betapur and get two liters of petrol covering almost 40 kms to and fro, that itself consumes one litre. Essential commodities are rationed through ration card holders from PDS shops to avoid hoarding. There is scarcity of sugar in grocery shops, people are managing with whatever little they have. Some have started making jaggery tea, as milk is abundantly available there.
People are obeying the lockdown and even physical distancing is maintained as the population density in the area is less in Middle Andaman. Goods which are being transported from Port Blair sometimes gets exhausted at Rangat itself. As of now there is no shortage after the administration allowed transportation of goods upto Diglipur in trucks.
Coming to southern group of Islands even in normal times there is always some shortage of essential commodities in Car Nicobar, Katchal, Chowra, Teressa, Kamorta, Pillowmillow, Pilpillow, Great Nicobar Islands. So it is the human tendency to hoard essential items, but people are managing with bare minimum. As soon as the news of cargo plane landing at Port Blair with essential commodities, medicines & PPE’s general public had a sigh of relief. Now public is not coming out of their houses unless it is absolutely necessary as police personnel are constantly patrolling and doing announcements to stay at home.