India's Cooking Gas Crisis: Switching to Dirty Fuels

Global stories making news on March 20, shipping disruptions from the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran are hitting liquefied petroleum gas applies to India hard.

This shortage risks pushing households back to dirtier options like coal, kerosene, and biomass fuels for cooking.

The government has stepped in quickly, approving an extra 48,000 kL of kerosene beyond the usual amount for low-income families.

Through public distribution, meanwhile, the Environment Ministry is letting state boards allow restaurants and hotels to use biomass, fuel pellets, or even coal for up to a month, saving gas for homes.

People are reacting with panic buying of cooking gas in recent days.

Reports show spikes in timber sales in some regions and more purchases of cow dung cakes as biomass alternatives.

India has made big progress expanding clean cooking gas programs, cutting kerosene output from 7,500,000 tons in fiscal.

Year 2014 to 2015, down to under 1 million tons last year.

Still, with 60% of its liquefied petroleum gas imported is the world's second biggest buyer after China.

Experts call this a short-term issue, expecting users to switch back once supplies stabilized.

They warn, though, of quick rises in indoor pollution and health risks like lung and heart problems from those odor fuels while pushing for backups, like electric or solar cooking in the long run.

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