Mangaluru: The shortage of commercial LPG cylinders is beginning to impact several sectors in Mangaluru, with hotels, temples and paying guest (PG) accommodations turning to firewood as an alternative for cooking. The sudden demand has brought renewed attention to the firewood trade in the city.

A few traditional hotels in Mangaluru have long used firewood stoves for cooking. However, most establishments depend on LPG cylinders. The current shortage has forced several hotels to consider using firewood stoves, leading to a rise in demand for firewood in the local market.

According to Sharif, who runs a timber mill in Bokkapatna in the city, around ten people are involved in the firewood trade in Mangaluru. “We bring wood from places such as Karkala once a month after obtaining permission from the Forest Department. The wood is dried before being sold. Even getting wood itself has become difficult,” he said. He added that hotels and PG operators have recently started enquiring about firewood, and the actual demand may become clear in the coming days.

Firewood trader Abdul Khader said that fish meal factories have been using large quantities of wood for some time, making it difficult for traders to get sufficient supply. “Bringing firewood itself has become difficult. Some people have asked about firewood due to the LPG shortage, but the real demand will be known only after a few days,” he said.

Traders say that firewood sales vary widely, with some days seeing around 50 kg sold, while on other occasions sales may reach five to six quintals. With LPG supply issues affecting cooking in several places, firewood sales have started increasing slightly. Some customers have also placed advance requests for firewood within the next couple of days.

Temples such as Sri Kshetra Kadri and Sri Kshetra Kudroli have started preparing annaprasada using firewood stoves from Thursday. Earlier, cooking was done using LPG.

In the city, a few hotels without space to install firewood stoves have temporarily closed operations. Small roadside eateries and hotels that depend entirely on LPG are facing difficulty continuing business.

A hotel owner in Mannagudda said that even for gas-based cooking it is difficult to find workers, and arranging staff for firewood cooking would be more challenging. He also said that calls to LPG suppliers often go unanswered, leaving some establishments with no option but to close temporarily.

Kushal, who has been running a firewood business near Pumpwell Kapitanio for the past 40 years, said demand has increased over the past two to three days. “Four or five hotels in Mangaluru have purchased extra firewood. Even though demand has increased, we have not raised the price,” he said.

He recalled that earlier many places, including the Kadri crematorium, depended entirely on firewood, but the arrival of LPG and solar alternatives had reduced the demand.

Several PG accommodations in the city are also facing difficulties due to the LPG shortage. Some PG operators lack space to install firewood stoves, and as a temporary solution they have started arranging cooked food from outside kitchens and supplying it to residents.