Cooking gas shortage intensifies in Kerala, govt to provide money to cover cost of using firewood 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: To solve the cooking gas crisis, the education department said that they will pay an additional amount for using firewood in schools. The additional amount will be paid for firewood more than the amount presently being paid. The previous ban on cooking on firewood in schools has also been lifted. The additional director of general education has issued a new directive to ensure that the supply of midday meals is not disrupted in the face of shortage of cooking gas at schools in the state.

Kerala is facing a severe cooking gas crisis. The crisis in the hotel and catering sector is acute due to the unavailability of cylinders for commercial purposes. More than a hundred hotels have closed in Ernakulam alone in the last two days. The trend of switching to induction cookers at homes is also seen. KSEB is concerned that electricity consumption will skyrocket with this.

Many hotels have reduced their functioning hours due to the lack of cooking gas. The number of dishes has been reduced. Many have stopped preparing live food. Hotel and Restaurant Association officials said that they did not receive any cylinders yesterday. When contacted, gas agencies said they only provide cylinders for essential services like hospitals and hostels. With the closure of hotels, there is also growing concern that employees will lose their jobs.