Kendrapada: With LPG cylinder supplies severely disrupted due to surging tensions in West Asia, hundreds of hotels, restaurants, hostels, roadside dhabas or eateries, and even individual households across Kendrapada and Jajpur districts have shifted to traditional firewood for cooking.
Cooking gas is not available in many houses, hotels and dhabas since last two weeks for which people are using firewood,” said Akhil Sahoo, a dhaba owner of Kendrapada.People are also storing firewood at home. In villages around the forest in both districts, people are collecting firewood from the nearby forest. “Since last week, I have been cooking food with firewood in an earthen hearth due to non- availability of cooking gas,” said Minati Behera (43), a housewife of Marsaghai.
The sudden demand has led to increase in prices of firewood from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 a quintal.
People venture into the forest to collect firewood. Every day Kalu Dehuri (26) of Dudhujori village under Sukinda block in Jajpur goes into the nearby forest with an axe to collect firewood.Many other tribals enter the forest to collect firewood. A firewood collector earns around Rs 200 to Rs 300 every day. “We collect large quantities of firewood and sell it in the market. We move from house to house to sell it,” said Ranu Munda (24) of Kaliapani village.
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