LPG shortage in Kolkata: Dry snacks replace roll, dosa on campus menu

KOLKATA: An acute LPG shortage has forced several university and college canteens across the city to cut items such as rolls, chow mein, dosa and paratha, with many switching to dry snacks. Some have also turned to chulhas, stoves and induction cooktops to conserve fuel.

At Presidency University, the Purushottam canteen remained closed on Friday after running out of LPG.




Biswajit Roy said they had tried for three days to secure cylinders. “Most of our sales come from cooked items — chow mein, rolls, fried rice and parathas. So, without a cylinder we have to shut down,” he said.

Rathin Mondal of Srishti Canteen at Presidency said he bought a cylinder from the black market to keep operations running. “Students depend on us for lunch, so I don’t want to shut down or cut the menu of rice, dal, curry, luchi, rolls, chow mein and momo. But I’ve stopped making dosas as they consume too much gas,” he said.

St Xavier’s College issued a notice on Thursday stating that cooked food would not be available until further notice.

The canteen at Scottish Church College faces a similar problem. Amit Chakraborty, who runs it, said they have fuel for only one more day and have reduced fried items such as rolls and chow mein.

“We are avoiding items that need a high fla-me. Today we served rice and chilli chicken, but if the situation continues we will shift to ready-made food,” he said.

At Jadavpur University, Milan-da’s canteen has begun using a stove and induction cooktop to conserve fuel. Owner Krishna Dey said the LPG stock would run out soon and he may seek permission to use a chulha.

“If the shortage continues, we may change the menu and reduce quantities, serving chire, doi, banana, roti and sabzi instead,” he said.

The Aahar canteen behind Aurobindo Bhavan had LPG stock until Friday, but owner Ashok Jana said they may soon rely on dry items like cake, patties, chips and biscuits.

At IIEST, Shibpur, the student canteen has begun using a chulha alongside LPG to save fuel. Meals at the Ladies’ Canteen are being prepared on both induction and LPG, but staff warned they may shut down if cylinders are unavailable next week.