Shimla: A shortage of commercial cooking gas in Himachal Pradesh has led to an unusual scene during the ongoing Budget Session, with meals for lawmakers and staff being prepared over traditional wood-fired stoves instead of modern LPG systems.
The food arrangements for the Assembly are being handled by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, which is operating out of Hotel Holiday Home in Shimla. With gas supplies running low, kitchen teams have been relying on large “bhattis” — traditional furnaces fueled by firewood — to prepare meals for hundreds of people each day.
On Friday, the sixth day of the session, staff cooked for an estimated 500 to 600 individuals, including MLAs, ministers, officials, and support personnel. Once prepared, the meals were packed into insulated containers and transported to the Assembly complex to ensure they remained warm upon arrival.
Kitchen staff described the situation as highly unusual. One of the chefs involved said that in years of service, such a disruption in LPG supply had never been encountered before. Despite limited familiarity with wood-fired cooking in a professional setup, teams have been working to maintain both quality and timeliness.
The use of firewood for large-scale cooking is not new to the region. In rural districts such as Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Bilaspur, and Una, such methods are commonly used during community feasts and gatherings. However, applying this approach in an institutional setting like the Assembly has presented logistical challenges.
Some members of the kitchen team also expressed concern about the environmental implications of increased firewood usage. They noted that while dry wood can help reduce emissions, widespread reliance on timber could have long-term ecological consequences if the shortage persists.
Veteran staff with decades of experience emphasized the need for a swift restoration of normal LPG supply, even as they acknowledged the value of preserving traditional cooking practices in a sustainable manner.
Despite the constraints, the catering teams have managed to keep food services running without interruption. Meanwhile, the ongoing fuel shortage has drawn attention within the Assembly itself, with several legislators raising concerns over the disruption in LPG availability across the state.
