IIT Bombay alters hostel dining menu amid LPG supply crunch

Hostel dining arrangements at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have been temporarily modified after a shortage of LPG cylinders linked to the ongoing global conflict disrupted regular supplies.

The institute’s mess council informed students that a revised menu will come into effect from March 14 as part of efforts to reduce fuel consumption in campus kitchens.

Under the revised plan, meals will include only one vegetarian dish, and no additional non-vegetarian items will be served. The menu has also removed fried and boiled preparations.

Desserts at dinner will be replaced with milkshakes or ice cream, while milk will be provided either normally or cold. Fruits will be served during both lunch and dinner.

The email notification sent to students informing them about the changes states, “Due to the ongoing LPG shortage arising from the current war situation, there is a need to minimize LPG consumption in the mess.”

“In order to reduce the burden on the already stressed LPG stock available in the country, certain high energy consuming food items have been temporarily removed or modified in the mess menu,” it added.

It also states that the matter of compensating for the reduced items and further adjustment in the menu will be discussed in the upcoming Mess Committee Meeting.

Institute officials described the move as a precaution aimed at conserving available fuel supplies.

“Items which consume or need more time to cook have been removed for now. Some variations in menu are bound to happen. We are already running on biogas and electric options and we do have some LPG stock too. But we do not want to run out of it. So we are taking necessary steps,” a spokesperson said.

According to the email notification, the revised dining plan may see further adjustments depending on how the situation develops.

“The regular menu will be restored once the LPG supply situation returns to normal,” the email adds.

The message also noted that campus events involving large-scale food preparation will not be held for the time being.

“Additionally, tea party, special lunch dinner, gala dinner and similar events are postponed indefinitely until the LPG supply is restored to normal,” the message said, urging students not to believe rumors that could cause panic.