MAPUSA
A simmering global crisis is now singeing livelihoods on Goa’s streets.
As tensions from the ongoing US-Iran conflict disrupt supply chains, a sharp shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has pushed the State’s small food businesses into distress “ from beach shacks to roadside gaddas selling vada pav and ros omelette.
What was once a dependable daily trade is now a struggle to simply keep the stove burning.
For many, the crisis is no longer abstract “ it is immediate, personal and deeply unsettling.
“We used to run the stove from morning till late night. Now we plan our day around how much gas is left. Some days, I cook part of the food at home and bring it here. Otherwise, I just can’t manage,” said Santosh Naik, who runs a modest gadda along the Vagator-Anjuna coastal belt.
Naik has also cut down his menu, dropping items that require longer cooking time.
The story repeats across the coastal belt.
Shack operator Marcus D’Souza says the shortage has created an unusual operational challenge.
“It’s not just about cooking for customers. We also need gas to prepare meals for our staff. With limited cylinders, we are forced to choose. Sometimes we prioritise the guests and arrange something simple for workers. It’s not ideal,” D’Souza said.
Restaurants, too, are feeling the pinch. Ranjan Naik, a restaurant owner in Calangute admitted they have begun shutting shop on certain days.
“We never thought we would have to close because of gas. But with supply down and no clarity on replenishment, we have no choice. Running a restaurant without assured LPG is impossible,” Naik said.
Industry voices say availability of commercial LPG has dropped by nearly half, leaving smaller operators “ who lack storage capacity or supplier leverage “ the worst affected.
For roadside vendors, the margins were already thin. The current crisis has pushed them to the edge.
“Every day is uncertainty now. If the cylinder finishes in the evening, that’s it. No backup. No income for the day,” said Abdul Shaikh, who sells ros omelette from a handcart.
With no immediate resolution in sight and global tensions showing little sign of easing, the anxiety on the ground is palpable. What worries these small entrepreneurs most is not just the present shortage “ but how long it might last.
