Educational institutions that run mess for their hostels in Tiruchi have started adjusting to the shortage of commercial gas cylinders by limiting menu items and rationalising the use of fuel resources.
“We have 2,100 men and over 1,000 women who are served three meals daily in our hostels. As of now, we have enough gas cylinders for two days. Since the college will be closing for a long break for Ramzan from Saturday, we do not expect any immediate shortage. However, we have sent requisition letters to our gas suppliers for prioritisation of our orders, once we reopen on April 1,” D.I. George Amalarethinam, principal, Jamal Mohamed College, told The Hindu on Friday.
Sources in another private college in the city said the in-house kitchens had stopped serving dishes such as dosa and chapati, which need a constant use of gas stoves. “For now, the hostel cooks have been instructed to make items such as idli and upma that can be prepared in a short period of time to conserve our resources,” a college professor said.
A women’s college in Tiruchi is planning to take a four-day break later this month in view of the short supply of cooking gas.
At the welfare hostel used by students of Raja Serfoji Government College in Thanjavur, district authorities have secured fuel supplies of both gas cylinders and firewood, in order to ensure uninterrupted functioning of the kitchen.
