LPG Shortage Sparks Firewood Crisis in Tamil Nadu Hotels
A deepening shortage of LPG cylinders in the cities of Madurai and Trichy has compelled numerous hotels to resort to using firewood to sustain their operations. This shift has triggered a dramatic surge in firewood demand, leading to price hikes and suspected hoarding, while LPG agencies report a spike in panic bookings from concerned residents.
Firewood Prices Skyrocket Amid Surging Demand
The crisis has caused the cost of firewood in Trichy to increase by a staggering 100%. Previously sold at Rs 3,000 per tonne, prices have now escalated to Rs 6,000 per tonne. Retail prices have also risen, with firewood now selling at Rs 12 per kilo, up from the usual Rs 10.
S Shenher Lal, a member of the Madurai City Firewood Merchants Association, confirmed the trend. "Before the shortage, we were selling about 2.5 tonnes of firewood per day. Now, that figure has jumped to almost 7 tonnes daily," he stated, highlighting the unprecedented demand.
Hotels Adapt with Menu Cuts and Bulk Cooking
Faced with the scarcity, hotels are implementing various contingency measures. Many have begun limiting their menus and adopting bulk cooking practices. Instead of preparing items like idlis and dosas fresh on demand, eateries are now cooking in large quantities and storing food in casseroles, which may affect service temperature.
K Rathnam, manager of Ramakrishna Coffee House in Trichy, explained, "Earlier, we served hot idlis and dosas directly to tables. Now, we cook in bulk and store them. Customers might not receive piping hot food as before." Some establishments are opting for dishes like uthappam, which can be stocked more easily than crispy dosas.
Centralized Kitchens and Alternative Fuels Deployed
To conserve the limited LPG supply, the Tamil Nadu Hotel Association has promoted austerity measures. K L Kumar, vice-president of the association, noted, "We are preparing chappatis and parottas in a centralized kitchen to save gas." In Hotel Temple City, Chettinad items have been removed from the menu, and idlis are now cooked in boilers fueled by firewood.
Secretary of the Madurai Coffee Tea Merchants Association, M K Mohammed Muhaiyuthdeen, pointed out that tea shops on the city outskirts remain relatively unaffected due to their existing use of firewood stoves.
Commercial and Domestic Sectors Feel the Pinch
The shortage extends beyond hotels, impacting large-scale events and households. Guru Ranganathan, president of the Trichy District Hotel Owners' Association, revealed that hotels are receiving only four commercial LPG cylinders instead of the usual twenty.
Wedding planner Arockiya Paulraj expressed concerns, "Organizing weddings is becoming extremely challenging. There are few alternatives for bulk cooking without LPG, and families are being instructed by hall managements to source their own cylinders."
Panic Bookings Overwhelm LPG Agencies
Meanwhile, panic booking for domestic LPG cylinders is intensifying in Trichy. Some agencies report over 300 bookings per day, a significant increase from the typical 200. C Balasubramanian, a resident of Karumandapam, voiced frustration, "Booking a new refill cylinder has become nearly impossible, and agencies are helpless. The government should direct companies to manage bookings and supplies based on availability."
The combined effects of the LPG shortage and rising firewood costs are creating a severe operational crisis for the hospitality industry in Madurai and Trichy, with no immediate resolution in sight.
