Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has temporarily permitted food businesses in Bhubaneswar to use coal and firewood for cooking after a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders disrupted operations across the city.
The decision follows complaints from several hotels, restaurants and roadside tea stalls that they were struggling to continue daily kitchen operations due to the limited availability of LPG cylinders. Civic officials said the supply disruption has been linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East affecting energy supply chains.
Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das said the temporary relaxation was introduced to ensure that small and medium food establishments can continue operating until the LPG supply situation returns to normal.
Earlier, the municipal corporation had banned coal-based cooking in the city as part of measures to control air pollution. Coal burning releases large amounts of smoke and particulate matter, which can significantly worsen urban air quality.
Authorities clarified that the permission is strictly temporary, and the earlier restrictions on coal and firewood use will be reinstated once the commercial LPG supply stabilises.
-OdishaAge
