Madurai Medical Facilities Adapt to LPG Crisis with Firewood Cooking and Menu Changes
In response to a severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, major healthcare and educational institutions in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, have implemented emergency measures, shifting to firewood for cooking and significantly altering food menus for patients and hostel inmates. This move aims to conserve limited LPG supplies while ensuring continued meal services.
Hostel and Hospital Menus Revised to Reduce LPG Consumption
Dr. L. Arul Sundaresh Kumar, Dean of Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) and Madurai Medical College, confirmed the changes in an interview with Times of India. He explained that hostels accommodating medical students, postgraduates, and nursing students have discontinued live cooking of items like idli, dosa, and chapati due to their high LPG usage. Similarly, patient meals at GRH are being adjusted to include more rice-based dishes such as sambar rice and curd rice, along with bread, milk, and boiled eggs. Wheat upma will replace chapati to further reduce reliance on gas.
"The management decided to stop live cooking and serving of food items such as idli, dosa and chapati in the hostel as it consumes a lot of LPG," Dr. Kumar stated. "For patients at Rajaji hospital, a variety of rice dishes will be provided."
Firewood Cooking Implemented Across Multiple Facilities
To facilitate this transition, institutions are utilizing available spaces for firewood-based cooking. At GRH, an unused area near the nurses' hostel will be used temporarily, while the medical college hostel has adequate space within its premises. Dr. Kumar noted that GRH alone requires four to five LPG cylinders daily for patient meals, highlighting the urgency of conservation efforts.
The shift extends beyond GRH and the medical college. The Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine and the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) at Balarengapuram will also adopt firewood cooking. At RCC, patients will be served semi-solid foods like rice porridge to accommodate the change in cooking methods.
Authorities Assure Future LPG Availability
Despite the current crisis, Dr. Kumar expressed optimism about future supplies, revealing that the district collector has promised to ensure adequate LPG availability going forward. This assurance aims to provide a temporary solution while long-term arrangements are made to stabilize the supply chain.
The situation underscores broader challenges in resource management for public institutions, with Madurai's medical facilities demonstrating adaptability in the face of shortages to maintain essential services for students and patients alike.
