Siliguri, 14th March: Gas cylinders remain difficult to obtain across Siliguri, affecting households, hotels, and restaurants, with sweet shops feeling the most impact.
Reportedly, sweet shop owners are struggling to get commercial cylinders and have turned to traditional wood-fired ovens to continue sweet preparation. While domestic cylinders are somewhat available, commercial supply is limited, and even at higher prices, cylinders are hard to secure. Rising costs of wood and coal have added to the challenge. Sweet shops are currently focusing on popular items like rasgulla, sandesh, and laddu.
Pankaj Ghosh, a sweet shop owner in Siliguri, said, “We cannot prepare sweets properly due to the gas supply issue. Business is not doing well. Commercial gas supply has largely stopped, and we have set up clay ovens as an alternative. Continuing business this way has become very difficult.”