NIT Silchar regulates LPG use in hostels, turns to firewood, shrinks menu

Silchar: To regulate LPG use amid supply concerns, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar has directed hostel mess authorities to prepare some meals using wood-fired stoves and revise the daily menu.

The measure aims to keep services running and prevent complete depletion of LPG stocks.




According to minutes of a meeting held on Thursday at the office of the dean of students’ welfare, hostel wardens and catering service managers were advised to maintain LPG cylinders and grocery stocks sufficient for at least 10 days. As an immediate step, some food items may be prepared using firewood.

Wardens and catering managers were also asked to prepare an alternative mess menu that minimises LPG use. Catering managers sought advance payments to procure additional LPG cylinders and groceries, which may be released with approval from the competent authority.

Earlier, the institute issued a notice to hostel boarders stating that kitchen operations were facing “unavoidable constraints” due to disruptions in the availability of essential resources.

As part of temporary measures, items such as roti and fried food have been suspended, while other meals may undergo modifications until the supply situation improves. The notice added that possible adjustments to the daily mess bill, in view of the revised menu, will be decided in an upcoming meeting.

Institute authorities are also expected to write to Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), requesting priority supply of LPG cylinders to address the shortage.

The development comes even as the Cachar district administration clarified that there is no shortage of domestic LPG cylinders in the district and that supply and distribution remain smooth.

However, the situation at NIT Silchar indicates possible local-level disruptions in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders used by institutional kitchens.

In a statement, the administration said all LPG retail outlets in the district are adequately stocked and domestic cylinder distribution continues without disruption.