News Broadcasting
iTV Network launches water sustainability project to celebrate World Water Day
MUMBAI: With 22 March marking World Water Day, iTV Network and Atom Technologies in partnership with AquaKraft Projects Pvt Ltd have initiated a special programme for administering water ATMs and public utility services.
The programme will cover the length and breadth of the country including D, E, and F category railway stations under the CSR programme facilitated by IRCTC and CMAI Association of India. Forty one water ATMs and ten state of the art public utility toilets will be initially inaugurated in the key areas of North Eastern railway district. Similar types of utility stations have already been implemented in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan and are currently being implemented in Baramati (Maharashtra) by Aquakraft.
A water ATM works like how an ATM works. A user swipes a prepaid card, following which the water dispenser’s screen flashes the chosen amount for which the user wishes to collect water and deducts the amount from the water ATM prepaid card. Public utility toilets that are connected to the network can also be used with the card.
The major issue in India on water consumption is clean drinking water, health, hygiene and sanitation. To cope with these issues, government has undertaken several initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Clean Ganga Project to create an enabling environment for innovation and sustainability.
iTV Network founder and promoter Kartikeya Sharma said, “iTV Network has always been at the forefront of using media as a platform for change. Availability of clean drinking water is one of the key challenges today and we at iTVnetwork are happy to work closely with Aqua Kraft to create a revolution in the distribution of clean and safe drinking water.”
Aquakraft chairman and CEO Subramany Kusnur said, “Water management is an important requirement for ecologically sustainable development. Efficient consumption of water is a major issue in today’s society, thus our project has been set up to create products that can help preserve one of our key natural resources and at the same time fulfil the requirements of clean and healthy water to the nation.”
Atom technologies CEO Dewang Neralla added, “We are extremely elated to work with Aquakraft for powering their AquATMs with our prepaid cards. We strongly believe this will benefit the clusters of villages and communities around the stations and will not only provide safe drinking water but also help foster greater financial inclusion through enablement of payments for water as well as other services using the prepaid cards.”
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
