Port Blair, Sept. 11: The Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Hon’ble Lt. Governor to set up another LPG Bottling Plant at Mayabunder to cater to the present and future LPG cylinder demands of Islanders.
In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, the Member of Parliament mentioned that on 20th April 2003 a LPG Bottling plant was set up at Hopetown area of South Andaman for the people of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and since last 19 years LPG cylinders are being supplied to all the Islands through the same LPG bottling plant.
He explained that together with growing population and tourist footfall has also increased considerably since 2003 and similarly the number of hotels and restaurants have also increased in most of the regions of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, especially in South Andaman region. This has created a heavy pressure on the lone LPG bottling plant of Hope Town.
He mentioned that logistically it is very expensive and difficult to transport LPG cylinders from Port Blair to North & Middle Andaman Islands considering the Convoy restrictions, poor condition of NH4 and weather conditions.
The Member of Parliament added that once the Middle Strait Bridge as well as the VSI Airport’s new terminal is completed, North & Middle Andaman will also witness a massive boom in tourism, which will put more pressure on the existing Hope Town LPG bottling plant.
Setting up of another bottling plant at Mayabunder will not only take some pressure off from the lone bottling plant of Hope Town but will also contribute heavily in fast pace development of the entire North & Middle Andaman.
The MP further expressed that once the second LPG bottling plant is set up, it can cater to the present and future needs of North & Middle Andaman while the existing LPG bottling plant at Hope Town will be able to cater to the needs of the entire South Andaman and Nicobar Districts.
He pointed out that Mayabunder already has a port, where an LPG container ship can berth and easily supply LPG to the proposed LPG bottling plant.
The Member of Parliament mentioned that once the International flights start operating from Veer Savarkar International Airport, Tourism industry of these Islands will witness a massive boom and then more hotel and restaurants will open in all over North, Middle and South Andaman region, which will double the demand for LPG cylinders and hence planning for a second LPG bottling plant is crucial at this point of time.