LPG shortage: Atal Canteens, midday meals in Delhi unaffected for now

NEW DELHI: Amid concerns over a potential LPG shortage affecting large community kitchens, operations of several big food service programmes across Delhi are largely stable for now.While some are keeping a close watch on the situation, most say food preparation and distribution are continuing as usual, with contingency plans in place should supply disruptions aggravate in the coming days. Officials associated with the city's Atal Canteens said the current food supply remains unaffected, though they acknowledged that a prolonged LPG shortage could eventually create operational challenges. At the Lajpat Nagar Atal Canteen, staff said meals are being prepared and served without any interruption."Till this morning, there has been no problem," said a representative at the centre. "The food is prepared at Mohan Estate and transported here for distribution. We typically receive food for around 500 people during the morning hours and another 500 in the evening. At the moment, everything is running normally."Another official linked with the programme said, "Right now, the operations are continuing smoothly and there is no disruption in food preparation or distribution," the official said. "However, if the LPG situation becomes more severe in the future, certain parts of the process may face pressure. That said, it is unlikely that services would stop entirely."At the Sheikh Sarai Atal Canteen, staff members said the method used for meal preparation has reduced dependence on LPG cylinders. According to workers at the centre, most of the cooking is done at a centralised facility in Ghitorni using steam-based. "Food for around 300 people is brought here every day, though on average about 200 people eat at this centre daily," a staff member said. "As the use of LPG is limited, our supply may not be affected at all, even if there are constraints in the availability of cylinders."Workers at the Anna Nagar canteen also expressed confidence that the services will continue uninterrupted. "We receive food for roughly 300 people daily, and so far there is no issue at all," a staff member said. "We remain in regular touch with our suppliers and, till now, they have not indicated any possible disruption in supplies."Organisations that run mid-day meal programmes in Delhi's govt schools have begun preparing for potential supply challenges. Some said they have already written to govt seeking guidance and clarity regarding future LPG availability.Bharatarshabha Dasa, national president and trustee, Akshaya Patra Foundation, said, "In the backdrop of the ongoing LPG supply situation, our efforts to nourish over 23 lakh children remain fully protected. We currently hold over a month's supply of LPG, ensuring uninterrupted supply of mid-day meals across all our operational kitchens." He added, "Furthermore, unlike conventional cooking setups, our centralised kitchens are predominantly steam-based, with steam generated by boilers run by electricity or fuelled by briquettes. Many of our kitchens are also powered by PNG. As a result, our LPG dependency is significantly lower than what it may appear."Some stakeholders also noted that the upcoming summer vacations in schools could provide a temporary buffer, as the demand for mid-day meals typically declines during that period.Ekta Shakti Foundation, which provides mid-day meals to around 30,000 children every day, said it has already initiated discussions with authorities to ensure smooth operations. Its CEO, Arun Singh Panwar, said govt has already begun consultations with NGOs and organisations involved in the programme. "The intention is to assess the situation and ensure that beneficiaries, especially school students who rely on these meals, do not face any interruption in services."