CHENNAI: With the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders continuing across Chennai, the corporation-run Amma Unavagams have already begun cutting down on idlis in the morning and chapatis in the evening from their menu. Currently, only a few Amma canteens continue to serve them, that too in reduced quantities. In addition, the number of variety rice prepared for lunch in the afternoon has also been reduced.
When TNIE visited a few Amma canteens in Chennai, it was found they have removed idli from their menu and are serving only pongal for morning tiffin. At night, they are serving tomato rice instead of chapati. Workers said while they usually used one cylinder per day (around five cylinders per week), they now use single cylinder over three days, forcing them to cut items from the menu. Workers from Amma canteen at Tondiarpet zone claimed they usually make over 600 idlis/day, and steaming them takes at least 1.5 hours, consuming more gas, thus they have now reduced the quantity to 300 idlis.
“Our zonal officials asked us to prepare both idli and chapati in limited quantities. We did so initially, about two weeks ago when the LPG issue began. However, the public kept asking for more idlis and sometimes even argued with us. To avoid such clashes, we stopped making idlis and began serving more Pongal, which requires only limited sambar and consumes less gas comparatively,” said an amma unavagam worker from Thiruvottiyur zone.
Workers also said since chapati preparation consumes more gas, they have stopped making it as well. “People ask why chapatis are not being served, as many need them for diabetic patients at home. But heating the tawa itself takes a lot of gas,” the worker said, adding the corporation could consider setting up bio-gas facilities to address the ongoing LPG crisis.
Workers further said they are willing to use firewood for cooking but the corporation has allegedly asked them to wait, citing concerns about negative attention during election.
While a few Amma canteens have bio-gas facilities nearby, their operations have come to a halt due to poor maintenance, making them unusable. Sangeetha (name changed), a worker of an Amma Unavagam in Anna Nagar zone, said, “For many years, the nearby bio-gas facility is not functioning properly and provides only limited flame. But now even that has become impossible.”
Even during lunch, while sambar and curd rice are usually served as mandatory items along with an additional variety rice such as lemon or karuveppilai rice, now only sambar and one variety rice are being provided. Currently, during government holidays or weekends, workers said, cylinders often arrive late, forcing them to manage with one cylinder for up to four days, and during such periods, they even reduce the rice quantity.
A councillor from Tondiarpet confirmed idli and chapati have been removed from Amma canteen menu due to LPG issue. With the city corporation now prioritising breakfast and mid-day meals, in about 15 days the schools will be closed after exams and LPG supply will then be improved at Amma canteens. Multiple attempts to reach City Health Officer M Jagadeesan went unanswered.