Patna: The shortage of LPG in the city due to the West Asia war crisis has forced banquet and marriage hall operators to increase the price of catering services provided during events. Scheduled weddings and receptions have not been postponed, but food menus have been slightly altered due to the LPG shortage. Several marriage hall operators are also focusing on food items that can be prepared on coal with the consent of customers. Some banquet hall operators have also arranged diesel-operated bhattis (large stoves) to cope with the LPG crisis.Nand Kishore, a marriage hall operator in Khajpura, said Hindu weddings are currently not being organised due to the ‘Kharmas’ season, which will end on March 14. However, Muslim weddings are taking place during this period.
“We have bookings for March 27, 28 and 29 this month. A slight increase in the catering service price has been made due to the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders. Earlier, the price per plate of vegetarian food was Rs 800, non-veg food with chicken and fish in the menu was Rs 900, and with mutton it was Rs 1000. Now the price has been increased by Rs 100 per plate,” he said.Another banquet hall operator in Rukanpura, Prakash Kumar, said that the LPG crisis has not only raised catering costs at weddings, receptions and other events but has also increased the price of bottled mineral water.“The price of a carton containing 40 bottles of 250 ml water was earlier Rs 200. Now the carton is available at Rs 240, which means an increase of Rs 1 per bottle,” he said.Khalid Imam, a banquet hall operator in the Bari Path area near Patna Collegiate, said that several food items in the Muslim community are traditionally prepared on wood and coal.“Foods like biryani, mutton and tandoor items are prepared on wood and coal. It is in our tradition. We are facing a crisis of commercial LPG cylinders, but now things have slightly improved. We are also opting for more food items that can be cooked on coal-based fuel,” Imam added.Ravi Singh, a marriage hall owner in Patel Nagar, said they are arranging diesel bhattis (stoves) to cook food at events. These are similar to kerosene stoves that were commonly used in households more than two decades ago.“The only difference between the two is their size. The kerosene-operated stoves were smaller, while the diesel-operated bhattis are larger so that they can be used for big gatherings. It would be slightly costlier than the conventional LPG, but we have no choice,” Singh added.
