The escalating global geopolitical tensions, particularly the Iran-Israel conflict, are now directly impacting the common citizen in Punjab, manifesting as an LPG crisis that has led to significant price increases at local dhabas and tea stalls.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that despite claims from the district administration of a stabilised situation, proprietors of numerous eateries across the city have been compelled to raise the prices of food items and beverages. This adjustment places an additional strain on household budgets, most acutely felt by daily wage earners who depend on these affordable establishments for their sustenance.
The scarcity and increased cost of LPG cylinders have forced many dhaba and tea stall owners to hike their rates. Raju, who operates a tea stall near A.C. Market, explained his decision to raise the price of a cup of tea from ₹10 to ₹15. He stated that obtaining LPG cylinders has become increasingly difficult, necessitating purchases in the black market at nearly double the original cost. “I am getting a 14-kg cylinder in the black market for ₹2,000, which earlier cost around ₹900. How can I survive without increasing the rates?” Raju questioned, highlighting the precarious financial situation faced by small business owners.
Daily wage earners and migrant workers, who often rely on dhabas for their meals, are among the most severely affected. Chandan Kumar, a daily wager, described how the price of a full meal has increased by ₹20 to ₹30. “Earlier, a meal cost ₹60-70, but now I am paying ₹85-90 for the same food. For someone like me, even an extra ₹15 per day is a burden,” he shared, underscoring the significant impact on the daily expenses of low-income individuals.
Gurpreet Singh, the owner of Rishi Dhaba, confirmed that approximately 20 to 25 per cent of dhaba operators have implemented price increases due to the operational challenges posed by the LPG shortage. He noted that the continuity of business operations had become increasingly difficult. Singh added that some establishments had initially been forced to reduce their menus owing to cylinder scarcity but were gradually restoring previous offerings as the supply of non-domestic cylinders showed signs of improvement, dependent on the type of cooking equipment, such as ‘bhattis’, used.
Vishal, another individual relying on dhabas for meals, pointed out the disparity in the impact of price hikes. He contrasted the situation of those who could absorb increased costs at expensive restaurants or hostels with the struggles of those, like himself, who eat out for basic survival. “The rise in prices of chapatis and vegetables is really pinching,” Vishal remarked, emphasizing the direct impact on essential food items.
The repercussions of the LPG crisis, indirectly linked to international events, are creating tangible economic pressure on the lower strata of society in Punjab. Small food vendors are caught between rising operational costs and the need to retain customers, while consumers, particularly daily wage earners, are facing the direct consequence of these price adjustments through higher costs for essential meals.
The Chenab Times News Desk