Guwahati Restaurants Forced to Use Firewood as LPG Shortage Cripples Kitchens
In Guwahati, the worst fears of city-based restaurant owners have materialized, as a critical shortage of commercial LPG cylinders is compelling them to return to traditional firewood to keep their kitchens operational. With supplies becoming erratic, eateries dependent on liquefied petroleum gas have shifted to firewood stoves, triggering a sharp increase in demand across the urban area.
Surge in Firewood Demand from Hospitality Sector
Suppliers highlight that while firewood was previously utilized mainly for funeral pyres, demand from hotels and restaurants has skyrocketed over the past week. Sailen Baishya, a wholesale firewood supplier, stated, “Orders from hotels and restaurants have increased significantly in the past week. We maintain affordable prices, ranging between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500 per quintal based on size. Daily supplies are arriving from Kamrup district and even from neighboring states like Meghalaya.”
Operational Disruptions and Menu Curtailments
Restaurant owners report that dwindling LPG stocks have severely disrupted daily operations. Although firewood is available, it requires constant monitoring and is unsuitable for dishes that need precise, controlled heat. Atul Lahkar, who operates a popular franchise, explained, “Our commercial cylinders are completely exhausted. We now rely on firewood only during morning and evening hours for specific items like duck. Induction cookers are not a viable alternative due to excessive electricity consumption and frequent power cuts, which remain a major challenge.”
Diganta Bordoloi, operations manager at a high-end hotel, added, “We have been forced to curtail our menu extensively. Chinese and continental dishes cannot be prepared effectively on firewood, so we are serving only items that can be cooked using this method. Consequently, several dishes have been removed from online delivery platforms, impacting our revenue streams.”
Challenges for Smaller Establishments
Smaller restaurants, which once depended on domestic LPG cylinders, have ceased using them due to delays in agency bookings and inflated market prices. Some have even revived diesel stoves as a coping mechanism amidst the ongoing crisis.
Industry Appeals and Official Response
Amid the escalating situation, the All Assam Restaurant Association (AARA) has urgently appealed to authorities to allocate a separate LPG stock specifically for the hospitality sector. An Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) official provided an update, stating, “In the last two to three days, refilling of approximately 20% of commercial LPG stock has resumed. Priority is being given to essential services such as hospitals and food supply units. Hotels and restaurants will receive allocations only if sufficient stock remains after these critical needs are met.”
The crisis underscores broader supply chain issues affecting urban centers in Assam, with restaurant owners grappling to maintain service quality while adapting to less efficient cooking methods. The shift to firewood not only impacts culinary offerings but also raises concerns about environmental and health implications in the long term.
