Rising cooking gas prices in India are pushing low-income families to return to traditional fuels like wood and coal. This shift is raising serious health risks and worsening air pollution, especially in big cities like New Delhi. India is one of the world’s largest buyers of liquefied petroleum gas, mostly imported from the Middle East.
However, the ongoing regional conflict has disrupted supplies, making gas harder to access and more expensive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged authorities to control black marketing and prevent panic, saying energy supplies remain stable.
But on the ground, many families are struggling to afford LPG cylinders. In a low-income area of Madanpur Khadar, a domestic worker, Sheela Kumari, said prices have become unbearable.
“We used to buy cylinders for Rs1,800 to Rs2,000, but now on the black market it has gone up to Rs5,000,” she said. Her monthly income is around Rs6,000, making it nearly impossible to continue using gas.
“It is unimaginable for us. The only option left is going back to wood and coal,” she added. She said a 14-kilogram cylinder lasts only about 15 to 20 days for her family of six.
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In comparison, a bundle of firewood costs just Rs30 and lasts for several days. However, she admitted that using wood creates smoke and causes health problems.
“There are health issues, and my children cough, but we have no choice,” she said. Another resident, Munni Bai, who suffers from asthma, said she had earlier switched to cleaner options like electric cooking and biogas. But now, she is being forced to return to traditional fuels due to high gas prices.
Gas is too expensive. We cannot depend on it anymore,” she said. Experts say the issue is not just supply but also access. Many migrant workers do not have the documents required to obtain subsidized LPG cylinders. As a result, they depend on the black market, where prices have doubled or even tripled.
“There is no major shortage yet, but hoarding has increased,” said a representative from the Centre for Advocacy and Research. Environmental concerns are also growing. New Delhi is already one of the most polluted cities in the world. The increased use of wood and coal for cooking could make air quality even worse.
The government had earlier introduced the “Ujjwala” scheme to provide LPG connections to poor households. While the programme helped millions shift to cleaner fuel, the current price surge is reversing that progress. Medical experts warn that smoke from wood and coal can cause serious respiratory diseases. Women and children are at higher risk because they spend more time near cooking areas.
