LPG Cylinder Shortage Forces Pune University Hostels to Resort to Firewood for Cooking
In a concerning development, at least two messes on the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) campus have been compelled to switch to firewood for cooking due to a severe shortage of LPG cylinders. This shift has disrupted meal services for students, particularly during the critical exam season, raising alarms about food security and administrative oversight.
Immediate Impact on Student Meals
The crisis began when the girls' hostel mess exhausted its LPG supply on Monday night, followed by one of the boys' hostel messes failing to procure a cylinder on Wednesday. As a result, students have faced significant changes in their diets. On Monday evening, girls were served rice, lentil curry, vegetables, and puri, while boys received masala rice and chickpeas on Tuesday afternoon. The inability to make chapati on firewood has notably affected meal completeness, leaving many students without their staple food.
Abhishek Shelkar, a student from the political science department, highlighted the ongoing struggle, stating, "We have not been served chapati since the afternoon due to the LPG shortage. With two of the four campus messes fully reliant on firewood, we are unable to eat full meals, which is unacceptable during exams."
Administrative Challenges and Official Responses
Shivaji Uttekar, Secretary of the canteen quality control committee, explained that despite a district collector's order mandating priority LPG supply to educational institutes, distributors have not complied. "The vendors' LPG connections are registered in different locations, and distributors are refusing to supply cylinders. We plan to submit a letter to the Food Distribution office, urging them to direct specific distributors to release cylinders. Until then, firewood is our only option to prevent students from going hungry," Uttekar said.
SPPU officials revealed that representatives from the collector's office visited on Tuesday, advising against firewood use. However, they criticized the administration for downplaying the shortage. "There is a clear LPG deficit, yet efforts are made to mask it. Since vendors change per tender, connections aren't in SPPU's name. We agreed to explore the Shiv Bhojan Yojana as an alternative, but only if it guarantees full meals for all students," an official noted.
Political Reactions and Broader Implications
The issue has sparked political attention, with former MLA and Maharashtra Congress senior vice president Mohan Joshi warning of potential agitation. "The Modi government announced lifting 20% restrictions on commercial gas cylinders from Monday, but no cylinders have arrived. We will meet the district administration to verify any official orders. If unresolved, the Congress party will launch protests," Joshi asserted.
This situation underscores broader challenges in LPG distribution and prioritization, affecting not only educational institutions but also commercial entities. The shift to firewood raises environmental and health concerns, while the exam season timing exacerbates student stress.
As authorities grapple with supply chain issues, students and staff await a swift resolution to restore normal meal services and ensure adequate nutrition during academic pressures.
