Daijiworld Media Network – Kaup

Kaup, Mar 22: The acute shortage of LPG cylinders gripping Karnataka has hit the local hospitality sector hard, with several hotels in Kaup pulling down their shutters. The crisis has now reached the Indira Canteen, a vital source of affordable meals for the common man.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has severely disrupted the gas supply chain, leading to a precarious situation for the canteen which serves subsidised food to the poor.

Located in front of the Kaup taluk administrative office, the Indira Canteen was forced to suspend cooking for the past three to four days due to the non-availability of commercial cylinders. This left many daily wage workers and residents, who rely on the facility for low-cost breakfast and lunch, disappointed.

Cooking on firewood

Responding to the persistent demand from rural residents, the canteen staff has now resorted to traditional methods. In a bid to resume services, workers were seen preparing meals on makeshift firewood stoves set up outside the canteen premises.

Menu curtailed

The gas scarcity has also led to a significant change in the daily menu. Staff members informed that they have been forced to cut down on items that require prolonged cooking or specific equipment.

The supply of idlis for breakfast and chapatis for lunch has been disrupted. Instead, the canteen is currently serving only simplified breakfast items like pulao, tomato bath, upma, and poha. For lunch and dinner, the menu has been restricted to basic rice and sambar.

While the switch to firewood has allowed the kitchen to restart, the staff noted that it is a temporary and challenging alternative until the LPG supply stabilizes in the region.