Soaring black-market prices of cooking gas in New Delhi are forcing low-income families to abandon liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and return to wood and coal, raising serious health concerns and worsening air pollution in one of the world’s most polluted cities.
India, the world’s second-largest importer of LPG, relies heavily on supplies from the Middle East. Ongoing conflict in the region has disrupted supply chains, tightening availability and driving up prices in informal markets.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged state authorities to curb black marketing and prevent panic, maintaining that the country’s overall energy supply remains stable. However, for many families on the ground, access and affordability remain pressing concerns.
In the low-income neighbourhood of Madanpur Khadar, 36-year-old domestic worker Sheela Kumari said she had no choice but to stop using LPG after prices surged beyond her reach. Cylinders that once cost between 1,800 and 2,000 rupees are now selling for as much as 5,000 rupees on the black market, nearly equivalent to her monthly income of 6,000 rupees.
“It is unimaginable for us,” she said, explaining that her family of six could no longer afford gas. A 14-kilogram cylinder lasts only about two to three weeks, even with careful use. In contrast, firewood is far cheaper, with a bundle costing around 30 rupees and lasting several days.
But the switch has come at a cost. “There are health repercussions, and my children cough,” she said. “But tell me a way out?”
Neighbour Munni Bai, 45, who suffers from asthma, had earlier moved away from traditional fuels to protect her health, using electric cooking and biogas. Now, rising costs have forced her to reconsider. “Gas is too expensive. We cannot depend on it,” she said, adding that returning to wood and coal could worsen her condition.
Advocates say the issue is not only about supply but also access. Many migrant workers lack the documentation required to obtain subsidised LPG connections, leaving them dependent on informal markets where hoarding has pushed prices up sharply.
“There is no major shortage yet, but hoarding has increased,” said Deepak from the Centre for Advocacy and Research. “Many migrants depend on black-market cylinders, and prices have gone up two to three times.”
The shift back to traditional fuels poses broader environmental risks. New Delhi, part of a metropolitan region of more than 30 million people, already struggles with severe air pollution caused by traffic, industry, and seasonal crop burning. Increased use of wood and coal for cooking is likely to add to the burden.
For years, the government has promoted cleaner energy through initiatives such as the Ujjwala scheme, which has provided millions of LPG connections to low-income households. However, the current price surge threatens to reverse those gains, exposing vulnerable families, especially women and children, to harmful indoor air pollution once again.
