Nashik's Food Industry Grapples with Severe LPG Shortage
As the LPG crisis intensifies in Nashik, with commercial cylinders disappearing from supply chains, the city's food ecosystem is facing unprecedented strain. Restaurants, mess operators, and small parcel joints, which serve as a lifeline for thousands of students and industrial workers living away from home, are desperately seeking ways to keep their kitchens operational.
Desperate Measures for Survival
With LPG stockpiles completely exhausted, many establishments have resorted to traditional methods to sustain their operations. Coal-burning chulhas, firewood pits, induction stoves, and even outdated coil heaters are being revived as alternatives. For price-sensitive mess operators, this shift is not merely an inconvenience but a matter of survival.
Ramesh Patil, who manages a parcel joint near Gangapur Road, highlighted the dire situation. "We employ eleven staff members and prepare two meals daily for over forty people. Our LPG supply has run out," he explained. "Our customers rely on us for food, and our workers depend on us for their livelihoods. We've converted a small open area beside our shop into a makeshift chulha zone, using coal or firewood to keep the flames alive."
Embracing Electrical Solutions Amid Challenges
However, firewood alone is insufficient to meet the demand, leading many kitchens to adopt electrical equipment as a stopgap measure. Rajesh Jadhav, another parcel-point owner, noted the drawbacks of this approach. "Induction stoves require specialized utensils, and heaters consume excessive electricity," he said. "Despite the higher costs, we opted for induction stoves because they are safer and more efficient. We invested in new utensils and two heavy-duty stoves to continue serving our customers."
Surge in Induction Stove Demand and Prices
The crisis has triggered a dramatic increase in demand for induction stoves, causing a boom in the local appliance market. A seller reported a significant rise in enquiries and prices. "Previously, we received about ten enquiries per month. In the last four days, we've been getting at least twenty enquiries daily. Domestic units up to 2,000 watts and commercial models up to 3,500 watts are selling rapidly," the seller stated. "Prices have skyrocketed: local units that cost Rs 1,300 now sell for Rs 1,800, branded ones have increased to Rs 2,300, and commercial models range from Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,500."
Revival of Forgotten Appliances
Even long-unused induction stoves are being brought back into service. Pramod Jadhav, an electronic appliance repair technician, observed a surge in repairs. "People are retrieving stoves they purchased years ago and never used. I have repaired over a hundred stoves in the past week alone, and the backlog of pending repairs continues to grow," he said.
This shift to alternative cooking methods underscores the severe impact of the LPG shortage on Nashik's food industry, forcing businesses to adapt quickly to ensure continuity and survival.
