ROURKELA: Even as concerns over LPG supply disruptions persist amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, around 2,400 government-run schools and 516 hostels in Sundargarh district continue to rely primarily on firewood and coal for cooking mid-day meals and food.
While these institutions appear largely unaffected by any shortfall in LPG supply, their continued dependence on firewood and coal highlights a disconnect with the government’s push towards cleaner energy. Notably, the use of LPG in government schools is not mandatory, nor is there any prohibition or regulation on the use of smoke-generating firewood and coal.
Administrative sources stated that all government schools and hostels have been provided with LPG connections. But in practice, LPG is used sparingly, mostly for minor cooking tasks, while bulk cooking is carried out using firewood or coal. The government schools serve two meals a day and the hostels three meals daily.
A headmaster, requesting anonymity, said apart from the smoke factor, firewood and coal remain more cost-effective. “Cooking rice for around 500 students requires two and a half large vessels. On LPG, each vessel takes over two hours, whereas with firewood, it takes less than 90 minutes,” he explained.
Another headmaster, who oversees a hostel with 250 boarders, pointed out that cooking is done at least three times a day. “The fuel cost per student has recently been increased to `90 per month, amounting to around `22,500. Despite this, actual expenses are higher, as we need 24 to 26 LPG cylinders monthly. In comparison, using firewood or coal costs between `16,000 and `18,000,” he said.
He also cited delays in LPG refilling and irregular supply as additional challenges. “Cook and attendants are also more accustomed to cooking with firewood. LPG is mostly used for minor tasks like frying vegetables,” he added.
Sundargarh district education officer (DEO) MD Behera said LPG connections have been provided to all institutions and they are encouraged to use cleaner fuel. He asserted that LPG availability has not been impacted by the ongoing crisis.
Behera acknowledged that due to cost considerations and operational challenges, many schools and hostels continue to use firewood and coal. He also confirmed that there are no strict guidelines prohibiting the use of alternative fuels, and declined to comment on the environmental implications of the practice.
According to officials, the ST & SC Development department operates 516 fully government hostels and recognises another 75 in the district, catering to nearly 49,000 students. It is widely acknowledged that most of these institutions rely heavily on firewood and coal, with many reverting from LPG due to practical constraints.
Sources informed that a tractor-trolley load of firewood costs around `11,000, while 100 bags of coal briquettes cost about `8,000.