Heat in the kitchen: LPG hike fuels firewood crunch in Mangaluru

Mangaluru: Kitchens across the city are struggling to secure basic cooking fuel as a steep hike in commercial LPG prices has pushed hotels and factories to fall back on firewood, triggering shortages and sharp price increases, dealers and hotel owners told TOI.

Firewood dealers said demand has surged over the past few weeks, leaving them unable to meet fresh orders. “I am unable to provide firewood to new customers,” one dealer said, adding that hotels beyond his existing clients are now seeking supplies. The shift to firewood in hotel kitchens began after the commercial LPG crisis triggered by tensions in West Asia, he said.

Prices have climbed rapidly. The dealer said rates started rising about two weeks ago from Rs 4 per kg. He also said that fish factories in Ullal are experiencing increased demand, worsening the shortage. “Amid shortage, I am unable to send proper stock,” he added.

Timber units, too, are feeling the pressure. Sattar, proprietor of a local timber factory, said they sell the remaining pieces of timber as firewood and have seen a sharp increase in demand since the West Asia tension began. “Although we don’t completely deal with firewood, we have experienced shortages and the prices have increased,” he said.

For hotel operators, the shortage is already disrupting operations. Naveen Rai, who runs Hotel Halli Mane near Mangaladevi, said his long‑time supplier flagged a sudden lack of stock. “We started adopting firewood after tensions in West Asia. I used to procure wood from a local wood supplier for a long time, but suddenly, since the past 2-3 days, they don’t have firewood; they only have green unseasoned wood,” he said.

Rai said firewood prices rose steeply within weeks. “When the LPG crisis started, the price was Rs 8-9 per kg; it has now increased to Rs 12. I heard that it got raised for them also by Rs 3,500 for 1 tonne,” he said. He added that firewood stocked for the monsoon season was exhausted within a month.

He also pointed to information on diesel and waste-oil (mud oil) stoves, both of which are reportedly costly.
On May 1, the union govt increased the price of a 19kg commercial LPG cylinder by Rs 993 across the country.